Aston Martin is planning a full-on electric-vehicle offensive with the goal of deriving 20 per cent of its sales from battery-driven models by 2024.

The British marque will start by offering a hybrid version of its DBX SUV in 2023, according to Automotive News Europe, and the brand will introduce more electric models to meet its goal of every fourth or fifth vehicle being electrified in some way.

The brand currently does not offer a single electrified model in its lineup. Its RapidE V12 hybrid sedan so far marks its first and only electrified model, sold for only a few years until it was strangely discontinued early this year.

Under previous CEO Andy Palmer’s leadership, the brand was supposed to have unveiled its next-generation EV models in 2021, likely under the historic “Lagonda” brand, but Moers says that plan has been readjusted.

“Lagonda has a different purpose for the future. Electric-driven cars are supposed to be Aston Martins,” he said.

2024 is not as far away as it seems; we’re almost at the end of 2020 already, which means Aston realistically only has three years to meet its goal. To accomplish it, the brand will tap partner Mercedes-Benz for access to its hybrid and electric powertrains, in exchange for the German automaker owning a 20-per-cent stake in Aston Martin.

Aston Martin had previously planned to develop a hybrid V6 platform for use in its Valhalla hypercar, as well as the Vanquish mid-engine coupe. “We are still working on that [hybrid drivetrain], but we now have alternatives,” Moers said. He added that Aston’s own full-electric car will arrive in 2025 or ’26, and be powered by Mercedes-Benz as well.