Volvo and Polestar owner Geely announced it had raised its stake in the iconic British luxury automaker Aston Martin to 17% as part of a new relationship agreement.
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. Ltd., or simply Geely to most, is China’s largest privately owned auto tech group with an emerging EV presence.
After buying out Volvo Cars in 2010 from Ford, Geely gained access to the established Swedish automaker’s technology and expert knowledge in safety, minimalist design, and engineering.
Geely also acquired Volvo’s racing partner, Polestar, in 2015 and British sports carmaker Lotus in 2017. By sharing technology and platforms, Geely has grown into a leading EV maker in China, with its hand in nearly every segment.
The Geely umbrella has continued to expand over the years by introducing new dedicated EV brands, including ZEEKR, its premium EV line, and Geometry, its mass-market electric car company.
With a larger stake in Aston Martin, can Geely do the same with the famed luxury British automaker?
Geely raises stake in Aston Martin ahead of first EV launch
Geely revealed it had increased its stake to 17% in Aston Martin, more than doubling its previously announced 7.6% ownership in September and becoming its third largest shareholder.
The decision to increase its ownership comes as Geely’s chairman and founder, Eric Li, expressed “confidence in the company’s growth prospects, its technologies, and its management team.”
Li added since acquiring its first stake in Aston Martin, the company has worked with executive chairman Lawrence Stroll and now looks forward to “exploring joint technology synergies and new growth opportunities.”
Stroll added:
Geely can offer us a deep understanding of the key strategic growth market of China as well as the opportunity to access their range of technologies.
Interestingly, Aston Martin rejected Geely’s £1.3 billion ($1.61 billion) investment proposal last year that would have allowed the Chinese automaker to take control of the business.
Aston Martin has struggled to raise funds over the past several years as it burns through cash. The British sports carmaker later raised £575.8 million ($660 million ) from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.
Although Aston Martin has yet to release its first fully electric vehicle, the company plans to launch one by 2025.
Electrek’s Take
Geely has the technology and partnerships to evolve the Aston Martin brand, reviving it in the new electric era.
Geely’s other brands are thriving. Volvo’s EV sales grew 157% in the first three months of 2023, with new models coming to drive momentum further, including the EX90 SUV and its smallest and cheapest SUV, the EX30, due out this summer.
Meanwhile, Polestar achieved another record first quarter, delivering 12,076 models, up 26% YOY, with its first electric SUV, the Polestar 3, due out next year.
ZEEKR built its 100,000th electric vehicle in April after only 18 months and believes it can be a top three premium EV maker by the end of the decade. Sales of Lotus’s first electric SUV, the Electre, began in 2022 after unveiling the $2 million all-electric Eviija hypercar in 2019.
For Aston Martin to turn things around, it will take a brand revamp. And what would be better than all-electric Aston Martins?
Not only do EVs offer more power and instant torque, but they are also loaded with the latest software and tech features to make the driver experience that much more enjoyable.
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Now that the new Tesla Model Y Juniper refresh has been fully unveiled and we know all the details, which one do you prefer: the new one or the old Model Y?
We are curious to get your opinion on the new Model Y design. Opinions appear divided as some see the update with the lightbars as played out, while others appreciate the more aggressive look.
What do you think?
Here are comparison images of the new and old Model Y:
Here are also the updated specs and features, but these are objectively almost entirely positive other than the lack of gear shift stalk, maybe, so the poll is obviously more about the design changes:
Feature
Model Y
New Model Y
Starting Price After Est. Savings
$31,490 Available Now
$46,490 Available Starting March
Trims
Long Range RWD Long Range AWD Performance AWD
Launch Series Long Range AWD
Range
277-337 miles (EPA est.)
303-320 miles (est.)
Seating
First row: power recline and heated Second row: manual fold and heated
First row: power recline, heated and ventilated Second row: power two-way folding and heated
BYD’s record-breaking year is paying dividends. Despite its vehicles selling for less than $17,000 on average, BYD topped Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, ranking first in car sales revenue in China last year. After taking the market by storm in 2024, the world’s largest EV maker aims for even more growth this year.
BYD ranked first in car sales revenue in China in 2024
BYD capped off an impressive run in 2024, selling over 500,000 vehicles for its third straight month in December. The year-end sales push bumped BYD’s total passenger car sales to over 4.25 million passenger vehicles last year, up 41% from about 3 million in 2023.
After topping Volkswagen to become China’s largest car maker in 2023, BYD became the country’s largest auto group in October 2024, surpassing SAIC. SAIC has joint ventures with Volkswagen and GM.
Not only is BYD selling more cars than its overseas rivals, it’s also making more on vehicle sales. According to China’s Sina Finance (via CarNewsChina), BYD ranked first among automakers in China in car sales revenue last year.
BYD sold 3.49 million vehicles in China, generating 420.7 billion yuan, or around $58 billion. Mercedes-Benz was second, with 710,000 cars sold for 307.9 billion ($42.5 billion) in revenue.
Volkswagen placed third with 2.1 million vehicles sold in 2024 and 303.2 billion yuan ($41.9 billion) in sales revenue.
The most interesting part is that BYD’s average selling price (ASP) per vehicle was just $16,700 (121,000 yuan), compared to Mercedes-Benz’s $59,500 (430,000 yuan) and Volkswagen’s $19,700 (143,000 yuan).
Ranking
Automaker
Average Vehicle Selling Price (*USD)
Vehicle Sales Revenue (*USD)
1
BYD
$16,700
$58.1 billion
2
Mercedes-Benz
$59,500
$42.5 billion
3
Volkswagen
$19,700
$41.9 billion
4
Toyota
$23,300
$36.7 billion
5
BMW
$46,900
$32.7 billion
6
Tesla
$33,800
$22.3 billion
7
Aito
$55,500
$21.4 billion
8
Li Auto
$42,000
$21.1 billion
9
Honda
$20,800
$17.8 billion
10
Geely
$12,700
$13.2 billion
Top ten automakers by car sales revenue in China for 2024 (Source: CarNewsChina/ Sina Finance)
BYD beat out Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Toyota, BMW, and Tesla even with a significantly lower average selling price.
Electrek’s Take
After BYD stopped making fully gas-powered vehicles in 2022, the company has become a force in the auto market. With over 1.76 million EVs sold in 2024, BYD ranked second, slightly behind Tesla, which delivered over 1.78 million vehicles.
Despite this, BYD was the “world’s top EV maker,” beating out Tesla with about 4,500 electric cars produced in 2024.
With China becoming saturated with domestic rivals, BYD is aggressively expanding overseas to drive growth in 2025. Last year, it sold more EVs in Japan than Toyota, and it was BYD’s first full sales year in the country.
BYD was Singapore’s best-selling car brand last year, the first Chinese automaker to achieve this feat. With plans to rapidly expand in Europe, Central and South America, and other key regions, BYD is poised to see even more growth in 2025.
Although it’s best known for low-cost electric cars, like the Seagull, which starts at under $10,000 in China, BYD is quickly expanding its lineup with new pickup trucks, smart SUVs, off-road models, and electric supercars rolling out.
Earlier this month, it launched the world’s largest car carrier, which will ship up to 9,200 vehicles overseas as BYD prepares for another big year in 2025.
Electric bicycle incentive programs have grown considerably over the last few years, and Washington State is one of the most recent to lay the groundwork for yet another program designed to reduce the cost of this alternative transportation for lower-income commuters. But the state is also going about it in a unique way, by using funding raised from its emissions taxes.
That’s right, a new $5 million budget earmarked for electric bicycle rebates in the state is being funded by the state’s emissions taxes as part of the Climate Commitment Act, which received a groundswell of support among voters in the state.
The rebates will range from $300 for those making more than 80% of the area median income to up to $1,200 for lower-income residents.
Applications will take place via a still-in-development online portal system, and the rebates will be honored at the register, meaning riders won’t have to fork over the entire amount and then wait for a reimbursement check or tax rebate.
Unlike other e-bike incentive programs we’ve seen, such as the infamous California state program that was beset with issues from the start, the Washington State e-bike incentives won’t be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Instead, lucky state residents will be randomly selected from the pool of entrants in a lottery-style drawing. However, many of the other details of the program are still being hashed out ahead of final implementation.
E-bike incentive programs like this one have been gaining traction nationwide as policymakers recognize the role electric bicycles can play in expanding transportation access. These programs often specifically target lower-income individuals who may not have the upfront cash to invest in an e-bike, despite the long-term savings they offer.
For many people, car ownership is an expensive burden, with costs for gas, insurance, and maintenance quickly adding up. E-bikes provide a cost-effective alternative, allowing people to commute to work, run errands, and access essential services without the financial strain of owning a car.
Beyond affordability, these programs also help address transportation equity and environmental concerns. Many lower-income neighborhoods have limited public transit options, making daily travel difficult for those without a car.
E-bikes can bridge that gap, providing a reliable and efficient mode of transportation that extends the reach of bus and train networks. Shifting more trips from cars to e-bikes reduces traffic congestion and carbon emissions, contributing to cleaner air and more livable cities.