Photo: Aston Martin
Due to their very old design, models such as the DB9 and Vantage aren't complying to the current regulations regarding side-impact safety. There was a lot of talking if Aston Martin would be banned from selling these cars in the United States of America, but there's nothing to fret and fidget about anymore.
Enthusiasts of James Bond's favorite sportscar brand can now rejoice 'cos the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration decided to grant the British marque a temporary exemption to the current US car safety standards. Alas, both the posh DB9 grand tourer and its smaller, sportier brother the Vantage are safe until August 2017 and August 2016, respectively.
Don't forget this was the year of the recalls in the United States (and not only), with the automotive industry in shambles as far as safety goes. And let's never forget about the tens of millions of cars recalled over issues such as faulty ignition switches and air bags, defects that even took tens of lives of US citizen.
One might point out that Aston sells very few vehicles compared to volume brands from General Motors, but the law is the law and even prestige carmakers need to comply with it... if it were a perfect world.
It would have been a shame for us not to be able to buy and register an Aston in the US, but the power of example will get funny ideas into the heads of other low-volume manufacturers. Still, the NHTSA notes in a statement "that compliance would cause substantial economic hardship to a low volume manufacturer that has tried in good faith to comply with the standard."
Don't forget this was the year of the recalls in the United States (and not only), with the automotive industry in shambles as far as safety goes. And let's never forget about the tens of millions of cars recalled over issues such as faulty ignition switches and air bags, defects that even took tens of lives of US citizen.
One might point out that Aston sells very few vehicles compared to volume brands from General Motors, but the law is the law and even prestige carmakers need to comply with it... if it were a perfect world.
It would have been a shame for us not to be able to buy and register an Aston in the US, but the power of example will get funny ideas into the heads of other low-volume manufacturers. Still, the NHTSA notes in a statement "that compliance would cause substantial economic hardship to a low volume manufacturer that has tried in good faith to comply with the standard."
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