Aston Martin puts the brakes on its new electric supercar until 2026 as bosses say drivers still want the engine’s throaty roar

For Aston Martin drivers – and for owners of all kinds of other sports cars – nothing beats the feel and sound of a combustion engine at full throttle.

So it’s perhaps not surprising that the luxury British brand is delaying the launch of its first fully electric car.

Aston Martin had unveiled plans last year for “the most exciting and highly desirable electric performance cars in the world”. But while electric vehicles can be just as punchy as their petrol or diesel equivalents, the one thing they really don’t do is roar.

Aston Martin has postponed the release of the battery-powered vehicle from 2025 to 2026 after admitting it was not as desirable as thought.

Executive chairman Lawrence Stroll said: ‘Demand, especially at Aston Martin’s price point, is not what we thought two years ago.’

He added that there was “much more demand” for plug-in hybrids than for fully electric vehicles because people “want some electrification, but still have the smell, feel and sound of a sports car.”

The company still plans to deliver its first plug-in hybrid supercar, the Valhalla, later this year.

Car manufacturers are experiencing weaker demand for electric cars than expected.

Concerns about inadequate charging infrastructure and expensive price tags during the cost of living crisis have deterred potential buyers.

Executive chairman Lawrence Stroll said: ‘The demand, especially for an Aston Martin award, is not what we thought two years ago’

He added that there was “much more demand” for plug-in hybrids than fully electric vehicles because people “want some electrification but still have the smell, feel and sound of a sports car.”

According to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), purchases of new electric cars by private buyers fell by 25.1 percent in January.

And forecasts show battery electric vehicles will capture a 21 percent market share this year — down from an estimate of 22.3 percent in October and the 23.3 percent expected a year ago.

Vauxhall owner Stellantis this month urged the government to do more to create demand in the battery-powered car market.

The UK arm of electric car company Arrival went bankrupt this month, putting almost 200 jobs at risk, while electric truck company Volta filed for bankruptcy in October, causing the loss of around 600 UK jobs.

The SMMT has called for more investment in public infrastructure for electric cars, saying a lack of charging points remains ‘the biggest barrier to faster rollout’.

Aston Martin unveiled plans for its fully electric car in a deal with US company Lucid, which took a 3.7 percent stake in the brand.