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The UK imposing a 10% tariff on U.S. car imports, matched by a reciprocal 10% tariff by the U.S. on UK car imports, represents a fair and balanced trade arrangement. Given Aston Martin’s positioning as a luxury brand, its customer base is unlikely to be significantly affected by a 10% price variation.

More importantly, India presents a tremendous growth opportunity. If tariffs on UK car imports are reduced from 100% to 10%, it would likely lead to a substantial increase in Aston Martin’s sales in the Indian market. Furthermore, if the UK secures more favorable trade terms with US & India than the EU, this would be an additional strategic advantage for British manufacturers like Aston Martin.

Https://www.topgear.com/car-news/usa/no-uss-25-cent-car-tariff-hasnt-been-paused-who-could-win-or-lose

If trade negotiations stall, foreign countries may accelerate the offloading of U.S. Treasury bonds (IOUs).

This action could have serious consequences for both sides:

1. Bond Sell-Off Pressure:

As countries reduce their holdings, demand for U.S. bonds weakens.

This leads to a drop in bond prices and a spike in yields (interest rates) to attract new buyers.

2. Dollar Value Impact:

A mass sell-off would flood markets with dollars, causing the U.S. dollar to depreciate rapidly.

Confidence in the dollar as a reserve currency could be shaken.

3. Policy Dilemma for the U.S. Federal Reserve:

Rising yields and falling bond prices make it difficult for the Fed to lower interest rates.

At the same time, tariff-driven inflation makes cutting rates even riskier, as it could worsen price instability.

4. Stagflation Risk:

The combination of high yields, high inflation, and slowing growth could push the U.S. into stagflation—a toxic economic scenario that's hard to escape.

Given Aston Martin Lagonda's Q1 2024 performance:

Vehicle Sales: 945 units (↓26% YoY)

Revenue: £268 million (↓10% YoY)

Adjusted EBITDA: £20 million (↓34% YoY)

What are your predictions for Q1 2025?

In my view, if there's concern about tariff imbalance between the U.S. and U.K., there are three rational options:

1. The U.S. could raise its import tariff on U.K. goods to match the U.K.’s 10% rate on U.S. vehicles.

2. The U.K. could reduce its import tariff on U.S. vehicles to the U.S. level of 2.5%.

3. Or both countries could simply eliminate import tariffs altogether, fostering free and fair trade.

What doesn't make sense is the U.S. threatening or imposing a blanket 25% tariff — that's disproportionate and economically unjustified, especially considering that the U.S. and U.K. do not even have a significant trade deficit with each other.

If the U.S. continues to refuse country-specific trade agreements, then it’s not unreasonable to suggest that other nations should reconsider their economic reliance on the U.S. — starting with moving away from the U.S. dollar as the global trading currency and boycott US products. That would have serious consequences.

The U.S. per capita national debt is now over $100,000, the highest in the world. If global confidence in the dollar erodes, the currency could spiral — much like what we’ve seen happen in Venezuela, albeit on a larger, more destabilizing scale.

In short: economic dominance isn't a right — it's maintained through cooperation and balance. If the U.S. abandons that, the rest of the world has every reason to push back.

Countach clearly explained about VAT and it is the Redroger who doesn't get it

You're conflating two very different things: reciprocal tariffs and local taxes like VAT or sales tax.

Reciprocal tariffs deal with import duties — the charges one country imposes on goods entering its borders — not the local consumption taxes every country applies domestically (like VAT in the UK or sales tax in the US). Trump’s reciprocal tariff policy is about leveling import duties, not touching domestic tax structures.

Example – Selling Tesla in the UK vs Aston Martin in the UK:

Tesla (Made in USA, imported to UK):

10% import duty (on customs value)

20% VAT (local tax)

Aston Martin (Made in UK, sold in UK):

0% import duty (domestically made)

20% VAT (same VAT as Tesla — because VAT applies to all goods sold in the UK, foreign or domestic)

So VAT is not a barrier exclusive to imports — it applies equally to local and imported goods.

Flip the scenario – Selling Aston Martin in the US vs Tesla in the US:

Aston Martin (Made in UK, imported to US):

2.5% import duty (for passenger vehicles)

~6–9% sales tax depending on the state (local tax, same for all cars)

Tesla (Made in USA, sold in USA):

0% import duty

Same ~6–9% sales tax (just like Aston)

Again — the sales tax is local and applies equally. The import duty is where the asymmetry lies. Trump’s issue (and rightly so) is with the 10% EU import duty on US cars vs the 2.5% US import duty on EU cars.

So no, this isn’t about “woke” anything — it’s about understanding the mechanics of global trade vs domestic taxation. And if you think VAT is unfair, fine — but reciprocal tariffs are not the tool to address that. They're about correcting actual tariff imbalances, not changing another country’s internal tax code.

An old but eye-opening video breaks down just how severe the U.S. deficit situation really is — and it’s worse than most people think. With numbers soaring and economic pressure mounting, could Trump be quietly exploring drastic options?

https://youtu.be/hGKOf47uaxs?feature=shared

Wow I love it.

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-britishcars/stunning-aston-vanquish-volante-breaks-cover/49656

@C2645

Did you take the time to reflect on the sales and bookings of the 2025 models? No, you haven’t. I believe it’s important to consider not just one angle but also to study the product, its innovation, and the timelines involved.

@C2645

I might seem like an idiot to some, but I genuinely believe the new 2025 models stand out. Car enthusiasts will love them, and if the products are truly great, they will sell. That means the company can make money, and I can be a part of that success. It might be a gamble, but to me, it's a risk worth taking. This is just my opinion.

I’m not a professional investor or financial advisor—I just love cars. When I looked into Aston Martin’s latest models lined up for 2025 and beyond, I was absolutely blown away by the designs, specs, and interiors.

I believe that from 2025 onwards, sales and booking figures will reflect this. Of course, launching new models and innovations comes with investment costs, which might also contribute to losses in 2024. But that’s understandable. Aston Martin needs time to sell these new models, and I haven’t seen any other luxury or sports car manufacturer come up with such a spectacular lineup. In my opinion, recent Ferrari models don’t even come close.

If Aston Martin can't turn things around in terms of sales and bookings by the end of 2025, then I’d have to reconsider their chances. But again, that’s just my personal view.

Now, you might be wondering—do I own AML shares? Yes, I do. I hold 450,000 shares, bought at around £1.10 per share, so I’m currently at a loss. Am I planning to buy more? Yes. Am I planning to sell now? No, I’m not.

I am also hoping for better outcomes in Aston Martin Lagonda's share price in the future, considering the launch of new models. Hence, I have purchased 450k shares over the past few months.