21 Sep 2024
Aston Martin continues to drive innovation and sustainability with its latest achievement—securing £6 million in UK Government funding through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) to support Project PIVOT. This ground-breaking initiative aims to develop lightweight, 100% recycled aluminium castings for future Aston Martin models, setting a new benchmark in automotive manufacturing.
Project PIVOT, led by Coventry-based aluminium supplier Sarginsons and backed by Aston Martin, brings together five research partners. The project seeks to revolutionize the global casting industry, tackling everything from design and weight to carbon emissions and production processes. With a focus on sustainable materials, the use of 100% recycled aluminium content will play a critical role in reducing the environmental footprint of future Aston Martin vehicles.
This milestone aligns seamlessly with Aston Martin’s ongoing sustainability strategy, Racing. Green. Launched with the ambition to enhance the brand’s environmental impact, this strategy includes significant efforts to improve sustainability across the entire supply chain. Aston Martin also took a major step forward in August by formally joining Drive Sustainability, a global partnership of 16 automotive manufacturers committed to raising the social, ethical, and environmental standards of their supply chains.
Roberto Fedeli, Aston Martin’s Group Chief Technology Officer, emphasized the importance of this project: “The award of funding from the APC is a major boost to Project PIVOT, which seeks to leverage advanced metal solidification and digital-twin simulations to manufacture low-carbon alloys which will ultimately uplift the level of recycled content we feature in Aston Martin models. We look forward to progressing this project collaboratively with Sarginsons and our other research partners.”
This funding represents a continuation of Aston Martin’s pioneering work with the APC, following support for the company’s electrification program in 2023. As Aston Martin prepares to introduce its first plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles, including the highly anticipated Valhalla, slated for production this year, the focus on sustainable materials and design is more relevant than ever. Deliveries for the Valhalla are expected in 2025, marking another step in Aston Martin’s transition to greener technologies.
Ian Constance, Chief Executive of the APC, expressed his excitement for the future: “These collaborative projects will further advance the UK’s excellence in automotive production. From sustainable materials to advanced electronics, and smart software systems, it’s important we continue to demonstrate that the automotive sector is vital to the country’s net-zero goals and that it is a highly investable opportunity.”
Aston Martin’s investment in sustainable technologies is more than a strategy—it’s a vision for the future. By driving innovation in recycled materials and reducing carbon emissions, the brand remains at the forefront of the luxury automotive industry while staying true to its heritage of performance, style, and craftsmanship.
