McLaren invests £500 million in the UK and prepares its first SUV
British supercar manufacturer McLaren plans to invest £500 million in manufacturing and engineering operations in the United Kingdom, as well as expand its model range with the brand’s first-ever SUV. As TimesLIVE reports, the company expects to increase sales and significantly improve profitability, targeting the performance of Ferrari and other luxury-segment manufacturers.
Investment and production
The programme includes the construction of a new assembly plant in the United Kingdom. McLaren also plans to independently develop and manufacture transmissions and engines. The company said these projects would create 1,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2032.
McLaren CEO Nick Collins linked the investment plan to the restructuring carried out last year after the company was acquired by Abu Dhabi-based holding company CYVN Holdings. CYVN also acquired a non-controlling stake in McLaren’s Formula 1 business. The carmaker’s main shareholder is now Abu Dhabi sovereign fund L’IMAD, which has committed to invest £1.5 billion in McLaren over the next five years.
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SUV strategy
The new high-performance SUV currently under development is part of a strategy to expand the offering for buyers. Collins did not disclose details of the model or its launch date, but said the vehicle would offer unique features for the segment.
Last year, McLaren cut one of two production shifts at its assembly facility in Woking, England, to reduce excess vehicle inventory at dealerships. The company switched to producing cars after receiving orders, seeking to avoid discounts and maintain the residual value of its vehicles. Amid the restructuring, McLaren’s sales fell to about 2,000 cars in 2025, compared with just under 3,300 in 2024.
Chief Operating Officer Michael Straughan said expanding the model range, starting with the SUV, should help reduce material costs and increase profit. McLaren has been loss-making for years, but the company aims to achieve the margins of the segment’s leading players. Collins also said McLaren currently has no plans to launch an electric vehicle because, according to him, customers are not demanding one.
