7 Jan 2016

• Record year for McLaren Automotive was supported by the launch of five new models
• In 2015 the McLaren Automotive global retailer network grew to 80 retailers covering 30 markets
• Strong global demand fuels 250 new jobs and a second shift in the McLaren Production Center 

Woking, UK (January 7, 2016) – McLaren Automotive, the British producer of luxury sports and supercars, ended 2015 with another record year, as it has done every year since the company began production in 2010.  A total of 1,654 cars were delivered to customers across 30 markets.  The global demand for the range of McLaren Automotive cars, especially the recently-launched Sports Series, has driven the need for a second shift at the world-class McLaren Production Center and the immediate recruitment of 250 skilled production team members. 

SALES SUCCESS IN 2015

The record year by McLaren Automotive was supported by the launch of no less than five new models, as well as the introduction of the new three tier product family – Sports Series, Super Series and Ultimate Series.  At the Geneva Motor Show in March, McLaren Automotive launched two cars at the pinnacle of their respective model Series – the McLaren P1™ GTR in the Ultimate Series and the 675LT Coupe in the Super Series.   

Built in response to requests from existing McLaren P1™ customers, the McLaren P1™ GTR was designed as the ultimate track car for McLaren’s most exclusive owners’ club. Hand-assembled to the exacting specification of its owner, the cars are used on a selection of the world’s most famous racing circuits as part of the McLaren P1™ GTR Driver Program. This club opens up the world of McLaren to a small group, immersing them in a full suite of personal racing services including seat fitting, use of the McLaren racing simulators and fitness facilities as well as full trackside support and driver training from a host of world class engineers and drivers, including Driver Mentor, Bruno Senna. 

The McLaren 675LT Coupe is the first modern-day McLaren to wear the ‘LT’ or ‘Longtail’ name, and was limited to 500 cars. It sold out almost immediately.  The track-focused 675LT Coupe, featuring lighter weight, increased power and enhanced driving dynamics, was joined in December by a Spider variant which, again, is limited to 500 cars and sold out in just two weeks.   

In April, at the New York International Auto Show, McLaren Automotive revealed the new Sports Series family, designed to be the most accessible form of McLaren ownership.  The first car launched, the 570S Coupe, has been almost universally awarded five-stars by all of those who have driven it.  This was followed by the reveal of the 540C Coupe at Auto Shanghai later the same month.  By the time the Sports Series is complete in 2017, the range will include two further body styles and is expected to account for two thirds of total annual sales volume.  Despite only having started production in November, the McLaren retailer network is already holding over six months worth of orders for Sports Series cars. 

2015 also marked the end of production for the road-going McLaren P1™ from the Ultimate Series.  The last of the limited run of 375 McLaren P1™ supercars was delivered to its customer in December.  The end-of-production of the McLaren P1™, the first of the new generation of hybrid supercars, coincided with a number of triple tests that confirmed the position of the McLaren P1^TM as one of the world’s greatest supercars ever produced. 

Alongside the record sales development, the McLaren Automotive global retailer network also grew in 2015 to 80 retailers covering 30 markets. 12 new retailers opened in 2015 covering important territories such as Seoul, Mexico City and Houston.  Further development is planned in 2016, with a focus on controlled and sustainable growth within existing markets rather than significantly increasing the total number of markets covered. 

In addition to progress with new car sales and retailer openings, the McLaren Automotive pre-owned program, McLaren Qualified, continued to expand in 2015.  More than 700 cars were sold as the program expanded into new retailers and new markets. McLaren Qualified will continue to develop in 2016 as a significant opportunity for retailers, as well as representing the first stepping-stone into McLaren ownership for many new customers. 

Commenting on the 2015 end-of-year performance, Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Automotive said, “2015 was a year of rapid expansion for McLaren Automotive.  When the company was set up in 2010, we set ourselves an ambition to launch one new car every year.  In 2015, we launched five!  This accelerated development has led to yet another record year, with unprecedented levels of demand for all of our cars, especially the new Sports Series, for which we are currently holding more than six months worth of orders.  This goes to show that the team at the McLaren Technology Centre and around the world, together with our retail partners, are creating and building the world’s most desirable sports and supercars.” 

Flewitt added, “The need to add a second shift in the McLaren Production Centre is another great example of the progress that McLaren Automotive has made in its short history.  I look forward to receiving the 250 new production team members into the company shortly.  All of these developments in 2015 give me a very positive sense of confidence that our product range and long-term business plans are heading in exactly the right direction.”

NEW MANUFACTURING ROLES AT THE McLAREN PRODUCTION CENTER

The sales success of 2015, linked to the unprecedented levels of forward orders for the new Sports Series, has led to the initiation of a second shift at the McLaren Production Center.  A total of 250 new roles will be created in the Production, Quality and Logistics departments as the company invests for its future.  These will be apportioned as approximately 200 in Production, 30 in Quality and the remaining 20 in Logistics. 

Welcoming the 2015 success for McLaren Automotive and the recruitment of 250 new production roles at the McLaren Production Center was the Rt. Hon. Sajid Javid MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. On a visit to the McLaren Technology Center on Thursday, January 7, 2016, Mr Javid commented, “McLaren road cars are some of the most iconic in the world and that is down to the excellence of British design, engineering and manufacturing. Today’s news that it is creating 250 new jobs is a sign that the UK auto industry continues to thrive.” 

“I was particularly impressed to hear that over half of all the components and parts that go into their cars are manufactured here in the UK, and this is creating countless more jobs in the supply chain,” said Javid. 

The second shift is scheduled to start in February 2016.  The new roles, which are being recruited immediately, will add approximately 40 percent to the existing headcount at the world-class production facility and will take production rates from the previous 14 cars per day up to 20 cars per day by mid-2016. 

Mike Flewitt continued, “The launch of the new Sports Series is a step-change for McLaren Automotive.  It opens the company up to new markets, new customers and consequently, new sales volumes.  The reception to the new Sports Series and the levels of customer orders tells us that now is the time to invest in the second shift and 250 new production team members to ensure that we are able to reach our assembly objectives once the full model range is available.” 

The increase in production resource comes on top of the significant investments in Research and Development previously announced in the company’s 2014 financial results. In June 2015, McLaren Automotive confirmed that it had reinvested 20 percent of its annual turnover of £475.5m, or approximately £92m, in Research and Development. Significant investment continued in 2015, funding Research and Development for new models, technologies and innovation. 

Ends 

Notes to Editors:

A selection of high resolution images accompanying this release is available to download from the McLaren Automotive media site – cars.mclaren.press. 

About McLaren Automotive:

McLaren Automotive is a British manufacturer of luxury, high-performance sports cars, located at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, Surrey. 

Following the global launch of McLaren Automotive in 2010, the groundbreaking 12C was launched in 2011, the 12C Spider in 2012, and the limited-run McLaren P1™ went into production in 2013. In keeping with its plan to introduce a new model each year, the company unveiled the 650S, in coupe and Spider form in 2014, and has announced the Sports Series among the models to be introduced in 2015. The brand continues to expand, and McLaren posted a profit during 2013 – only the third year of vehicle production. This was followed in 2014, by a third consecutive year of growth in sales with a record 1,649 vehicles delivered via a dedicated global network of retailers in every major automotive market. 

McLaren Automotive Partners                       
To support the development, engineering and manufacture of its range of innovative and highly acclaimed sports cars, McLaren Automotive has partnered with world leading companies to provide specialist expertise and technology including, AkzoNobel, ExxonMobil, Pirelli and SAP.  

Designed for the track; Developed for the road

The connection between Formula 1 and road cars at McLaren is a natural process of experience, knowledge, principles and process transfer. Through the integration of 50 years of Formula 1™ racing expertise and knowledge, and over 20 years of heritage in producing landmark sports cars, McLaren Automotive designs, develops and builds a range of technologically advanced and groundbreaking high performance sports cars which are designed to be a no compromise drive on both road and track. 

McLaren has pioneered the use of carbon fibre in vehicle production over the past 30 years, and since introducing a carbon chassis into racing and road cars with the 1981 McLaren MP4/1 and 1993 McLaren F1 respectively, McLaren has not built a car without a carbon fibre chassis. 

Visit cars.mclaren.com for more details. 

Further information

Wayne Bruce
Global Communications Director | McLaren Automotive Limited
Phone: +44 (0) 1483 261500             
Mobile: +44 (0) 7768 132429             
Email: wayne.bruce@mclaren.com

Dave Eden
Global PR Manager | McLaren Automotive Limited
Phone:+44 (0) 1483 262867
Mobile: +44 (0) 7500 857089             
Email: dave.eden@mclaren.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DaveEden

Duncan Forrester
Global Corporate Communications Manager | McLaren Automotive Limited
Phone: +44 (0) 1483 216500
Mobile: +44 (0) 7468 769419
Email: duncan.forrester@mclaren.com  
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DuncanForrester  

John Paolo Canton
Senior PR Manager | Americas Region           
Phone: +1.646.926.5971               
Mobile: +1.347.809.0994               
Email: jp.canton@mclaren.com

Media website: cars.mclaren.press
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mclarenautomotive
Twitter: www.twitter.com/McLarenAuto
You Tube: www.youtube.com/mclarenautomotivetv