<p>Luxury British carmaker Aston Martin will make its fully-electric vehicles in Britain from 2025, its chairman told the Financial Times, in a boost to the country's beleaguered auto sector.</p>.<p>Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll said a battery-powered sport utility vehicle (SUV) and fully-electric sports cars will be made at Aston plants in England and Wales.</p>.<p>James Bond's favourite carmaker is 20-per cent owned by Mercedes-Benz and there were suggestions production could have taken place in Germany.</p>.<p>Aston meanwhile plans this year to launch hybrid versions of its cars ahead of rolling out fully-electric versions.</p>.<p>In an interview with the business daily, Stroll said its electric "SUV will be built in Wales" and battery-operated sport cars at its plant in Graydon, England.</p>.<p>It comes as Stellantis, the newly-formed European carmaker, is yet to decide over the future of a Vauxhall plant in England.</p>.<p>Stellantis -- a merger of France's PSA and US-Italian rival Fiat Chrysler -- is said to be seeking financial incentives from the British government to produce a fully-electric vehicle in the UK.</p>.<p>Indian-owned Jaguar recently announced it would produce only electric vehicles from 2025 -- and at its facilities in England.</p>.<p>With Britain banning the sale of new high-polluting diesel and petrol cars from 2030, the country's largely foreign-owned car manufacturing sector must increasingly switch to producing fully-electric vehicles.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, after much uncertainty, the UK automotive sector was a big winner from the recent Brexit agreement struck between London and Brussels as it allows for smooth tariff-free trade.</p>.<p>UK electric car exports will however face tariffs from 2027 if they do not have a majority of components sourced from either Britain or the European Union.</p>.<p>Monday's announcement comes after Aston last month revealed that its losses almost quadrupled in 2020.</p>.<p>Aston Martin's fortunes have been hit also by coronavirus-related delays to James Bond spy blockbuster "No Time To Die".</p>.<p>Bond films traditionally feature various top-end Aston Martin cars that give the company a valuable marketing boost.</p>.<p>The company launched on the stock market in 2018 to great fanfare.</p>.<p>However, losses almost doubled in 2019, as the group crashed spectacularly on weak global demand linked also to a Chinese economic slowdown.</p>.<p>Aston subsequently clinched a cash injection from Stroll at the start of last year.</p>.<p>As part of the deal, the Racing Point Formula One team -- whose drivers include Lawrence Stroll's son Lance Stroll -- has rebranded as Aston Martin for the 2021 season.</p>
<p>Luxury British carmaker Aston Martin will make its fully-electric vehicles in Britain from 2025, its chairman told the Financial Times, in a boost to the country's beleaguered auto sector.</p>.<p>Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll said a battery-powered sport utility vehicle (SUV) and fully-electric sports cars will be made at Aston plants in England and Wales.</p>.<p>James Bond's favourite carmaker is 20-per cent owned by Mercedes-Benz and there were suggestions production could have taken place in Germany.</p>.<p>Aston meanwhile plans this year to launch hybrid versions of its cars ahead of rolling out fully-electric versions.</p>.<p>In an interview with the business daily, Stroll said its electric "SUV will be built in Wales" and battery-operated sport cars at its plant in Graydon, England.</p>.<p>It comes as Stellantis, the newly-formed European carmaker, is yet to decide over the future of a Vauxhall plant in England.</p>.<p>Stellantis -- a merger of France's PSA and US-Italian rival Fiat Chrysler -- is said to be seeking financial incentives from the British government to produce a fully-electric vehicle in the UK.</p>.<p>Indian-owned Jaguar recently announced it would produce only electric vehicles from 2025 -- and at its facilities in England.</p>.<p>With Britain banning the sale of new high-polluting diesel and petrol cars from 2030, the country's largely foreign-owned car manufacturing sector must increasingly switch to producing fully-electric vehicles.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, after much uncertainty, the UK automotive sector was a big winner from the recent Brexit agreement struck between London and Brussels as it allows for smooth tariff-free trade.</p>.<p>UK electric car exports will however face tariffs from 2027 if they do not have a majority of components sourced from either Britain or the European Union.</p>.<p>Monday's announcement comes after Aston last month revealed that its losses almost quadrupled in 2020.</p>.<p>Aston Martin's fortunes have been hit also by coronavirus-related delays to James Bond spy blockbuster "No Time To Die".</p>.<p>Bond films traditionally feature various top-end Aston Martin cars that give the company a valuable marketing boost.</p>.<p>The company launched on the stock market in 2018 to great fanfare.</p>.<p>However, losses almost doubled in 2019, as the group crashed spectacularly on weak global demand linked also to a Chinese economic slowdown.</p>.<p>Aston subsequently clinched a cash injection from Stroll at the start of last year.</p>.<p>As part of the deal, the Racing Point Formula One team -- whose drivers include Lawrence Stroll's son Lance Stroll -- has rebranded as Aston Martin for the 2021 season.</p>