Aston Martin US dealers could lose DB9 & Vantage – which could see many shutting up shop

New side impact crash regulations – due to take effect in the US in September – could mean Aston Martin are no longer able to sell the DB9 and Vantage in the US.

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The rules and regulations car makers have to conform to are both enormous and onerous, and different markets have different regulations. And it looks like new side impact regulation could scupper AML’s sales in the US.

New side impact rules – due to come in to force in the US in September – means that two of Aston Martin’s big sellers – the DB9 and Vantage V8 and V12 – would have to be withdrawn from sale in the US as they won’t comply.

That’s led Aston Martin’s US advisory panel chairman, James Walker, to petition the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for an exemption for the two models, and for Aston’ convertible models which won’t make the new requirements in time.

According to Walker, losing the ability to sell the DB9 and Vantage ranges would result in a drop in sales for American Aston Martin Dealers of 25 per cent, and losing all convertible models too would increase that loss to 40 per cent.

Walker says that Aston’s US dealers are already working on very slim margins – they work on returns of less than 0.7 per cent of sales – which would push some of Aston’s dealers in to shutting up shop, leading to job losses and much reduced customer service.

Aston Martin are seeking an exemption for the DB9 until August 2016 and for the Vantage range until August 2017.

Let’s hope they get it.