World EV Day

Archive for the ‘Aston Martin’ Category

World EV Day

Posted by Allaster Gair

In celebration of the recently passed WorldEVDay on the 9th September, we look at the many contributions of members of the European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA) to sustainable automotive practices.

1 – Electric Fleet of Vehicles 🔋
Like many other of our members, Lotus Cars Europe are progressing towards a fully electric fleet of vehicles. A move first inspired by the Lotus Evija in 2019, and most recently cemented by the success of the Lotus Eletre and Emeya, for which the British company won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award.

2 – Hydrogen Technology for Future Vehicles ⛽
Harnessing hydrogen technology is another area members of ESCA are at the forefront of. Consider, for example, McLaren Automotive Ltd‘s partnership with Mission H24 – producing a prototype capable of the highest calibre performance at Le Mans.

3: Sustainable Manufacturing Facilities 🚔
Throughout our various members, sustainable manufacturing practices are well-established. For example, Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd achieved a 23.3% reduction in CO2 emissions per car manufactured in 2023 compared with 2022, whilst Goupil have fully-fitted the roof of their factory with solar panels.

Paralympic Games

Posted by Allaster Gair

With the Paralympic Games ending on Sunday, the European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA) pauses to reflect on contributions made by three members to the unforgettable 2024 Summer of Sport:

1 – Goupil‘s Electric Vans were in action for the Tour De France, where Goupil’s unique versatility was on full display. The ultra-compact size enabled urban cleaners to transport and collect household waste bins and carry out a variety of cleaning functions- paramount to keeping the event running smoothly.

2 – Team GB were powered by Lotus Cars Europe; assisting the team to gold medal in track cycling women’s team sprint with a World Record time of 45.186. In the words of Richard Hill, Chief Aerodynamicist at Lotus: “Lotus is proud to continue working with British Cycling… in offering unrivalled engineering expertise to produce the most efficient and beautiful bike to support our national team”.

3 – In response to previous medalists claiming Olympic Medals were “losing shine”, Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd badge makers have pledged to restore any Olympic medals to their full condition.

Members of the European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA) continue to be of significant importance to the success of European and global sporting events. With 619,757,000 Euros invested in R&D across the financial year of 2022/23, the Alliance honours the legacy of sporting greatness while paving the way for tomorrow’s sporting successes.

Autocar Great Women 2024 Awards

Posted by Allaster Gair

Earlier this year, the winners of the Autocar Great Women 2024 Awards were announced. We were delighted to see representatives of McLaren Automotive Ltd, Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd, Lotus Cars Europe and INEOS Automotive nominated throughout the various categories.

We would like to congratulate all of these outstanding individuals on their achievement, and in particular, President of the European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA), Helen Foord, on her nomination.

Run by AutoCar in association with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Great Women celebrates the achievements of the most influential women across the motoring sector.

Goodwood Festival of Speed

Posted by Allaster Gair

At the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed, the European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA) was represented by a series of high-profile automotive debuts and displays from our members.

Only a few weeks after being revealed by Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd, the Valiant, driven by Fernando Alonso, made its global debut on the historic Goodwood Hillclimb. Across the remainder of the Festival, the Valkyrie, Valour, Victor, Vantage and DBX707 were also out on display.

BUGATTI made the public debut of the recently announced Bugatti Tourbillon, powered by an all-new 8.3 litre naturally aspirated V16 engine. Those attending the Festival were also able to see the Bolide, Mistral and other iconic models from Bugatti over the weekend.

Hispano Suiza revealed the Carmen Sagrera hypercar for the first time outside Spain. The Carmen Sagrera completed its first kilometres on the famous Hillclimb driven by Luis Pérez-Sala, Hispano Suiza ambassador and former Formula 1 driver.

Elsewhere, Koenigsegg Automotive AB introduced the CC850, while the Lotus Cars Europe Evija set a new record time of 51.6 seconds for a two-seater production car on the Hillclimb.

McLaren Automotive Ltd paid tribute to Ayrton Senna by running his 1991 championship-winning MP4/6, driven by his nephew Bruno Senna, with Emerson Fittipaldi driving his championship-winning M23. Johnny Rutherford’s Indianapolis 500-winning M16C/D was on display for those at the Festival alongside the impressive Senna Supercar. Two-time Formula World Champion, Mika Häkkinen, also took to the wheel of the McLaren Solus GT.

This year saw Pagani Automobili attend with the largest selection of automobiles in their history of participation at Goodwood Festival of Speed. Throughout the Festival the Imola Roadster, Huayra Epitome, Utopia, Huayra R, Huayra Roadster, and Zonda Roadster were on view.

Finally, Praga displayed both their R1 race car and Bohema hypercar, while Rimac Automobili showcased the exclusive and newly revealed Nevera 15 Year Anniversary Edition in the Hillclimb.

2024 British Grand Prix

Posted by Allaster Gair

Members of the Small Volume Car Manufacturers’ Alliance (ESCA), Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd and McLaren Automotive Ltd, showcased impressive performances at the British Grand Prix last weekend. As the F1 2024 Season continues on, both teams demonstrated remarkable skill on the Silverstone Circuit and secured vital points in the Championship.

Their commendable performances highlight the technical iniquity of of our members, and we would like to wish them both the best of luck for the remainder of the F1 2024 Season.

Sustainable Automotive Practices

Posted by Allaster Gair

In recent decades, car manufacturers in Europe have been successful in transitioning to more sustainable automotive practices. For example, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’​ Association (ACEA), European car manufacturers have lowered both their CO2 emissions and energy use from car production by 30% since 2005.

Members of the European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA) have been at the forefront of sustainable automotive practices in recent years. In 2022, Goupil installed solar panels on the roof of their premises and on the shade of the parking lot for their staff, providing a great example of our members using their space to produce green and local energy sources.

Furthermore, in their Sustainability Report for the year 2023, McLaren Automotive Ltd announced a 25% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions from their fuel and facilities since 2019. Likewise, Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd, through their ‘Racing.Green’ strategy, achieved a 23.3% reduction in CO2 emissions per car manufactured when compared to 2022.

These efforts demonstrate ESCA’s commitment to environmental responsibility and paving the way for a greener future in transportation.

Aston Martin – Racing.Green Strategy

Posted by Allaster Gair

The commitment of members of the European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA) to EUGreenWeek is reflected by their industry-leading sustainability initiatives.

Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd recently published their Sustainability Report for the year 2023. Through their ‘Racing.Green.’ strategy, Aston Martin are helping to lead the way in sustainable automotive manufacturing and this recently published report demonstrates the significant progress they are making.

For example, in 2023, Aston Martin were able to utilise 100% renewable electricity to power their manufacturing sites, whilst also achieving a 23.3% reduction in CO2 emissions per car manufactured when compared to 2022. The recently published report also highlighted Aston Martin’s achievement in reducing total energy consumption between 2022 and 2023 by 11.2%.

Aston Martin receive King’s Award for Enterprise

Posted by Allaster Gair

Recently, Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd were honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise, for innovation.

The King’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the UK. The awards were first established in 1965 and were renamed last year to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II by recognising outstanding businesses in the UK. This is now the third time Aston Martin have received the honour since 1998.

Aston Martin were most recently acknowledged for their unique approach to combining handcraft with the latest technology in the creation of leather interiors. This has enabled them to create an innovative perforating and quilting technique that produces decorative finishes and promotes the cooling function on its ultra-luxury leather seats. Furthermore, Aston Martin’s proprietary manufacturing technology has enabled perforated holes to be crafted in bespoke patterns to a customer’s specific design, which is impossible with traditional tooling.

The European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA) would like to extend our congratulations to Aston Martin for this remarkable achievement that demonstrates the capability of all our members to consistently be at the forefront of automotive innovation.

#astonmartin #innovation #manufacturing #kingcharles

Briefing Papers

ESCA advocates on behalf of some of the most recognisable and iconic automotive brands in the world. We work with European and international decision makers to ensure the interests of high performance road and racing cars are represented alongside the mainstream automotive industry.