McLaren is putting £500m into its British operations, with a major expansion set to bring a new performance SUV, in-house engines and thousands of jobs across the country.
The investment will increase production and expand manufacturing, engineering and operations at sites including Woking and South Yorkshire. McLaren says the next generation of its cars will be built in Britain, supported by a new vehicle assembly facility.
New SUV and home-grown powertrains
For the first time in the company’s history, McLaren Automotive’s future powertrains will be designed and built in-house. The programme will begin with two new engines and transmissions.
The company’s manufacturing workforce in the UK is expected to double, with new apprenticeships planned to help train the next generation of automotive talent.
McLaren will expand its existing operations at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking and at the McLaren Composites Technology Centre, its carbon-fibre manufacturing and research facility in South Yorkshire.
Thousands of jobs across the supply chain
The programme is expected to create at least 1,000 new direct and indirect jobs across the UK by 2032. Up to 3,000 further roles could be created across the supply chain.
McLaren has also recently opened two new UK sites: the McLaren Creation Centre design and innovation centre in Bicester, and a testing and vehicle development facility in the Midlands.
Nick Collins, CEO of McLaren Group Holdings and McLaren Automotive, said the investment would provide a platform to grow while continuing to invest in the people, technologies and products needed to remain competitive.
The funding forms part of a wider commitment from McLaren Automotive shareholder L’IMAD, a sovereign investor of the Government of Abu Dhabi.
Andy Burnham, UK Prime Minister, said the company was keeping the design, engineering and building of its future cars in Britain while taking on 1,000 more people. He added that the investment would support apprenticeships, skilled work and growth beyond McLaren’s own factories.
