McLaren Automotive Spun Off

McLaren's march to become a recognized, volume brand in the sports-car segment continues! In order to further that goal and further seperate the automotive/road car division from the F1 racing operations, a new company was created.

Before it was McLaren Group, with McLaren Automotive as an individual component of that group. No more, as McLaren Automotive is it's own seperate company, headed up my McLaren Group CEO Ron Dennis. This move will enable to the company to better focus and comes just as they are planning a major expansion.

It's also easier to raise private capital under this situation, as the capital being raised is going for one purpose; to help develop McLaren Roadcars.

As I've said before in previous articles on McLaren, the company is planning three models. An new Ferrari F430 competitor, codenamed "P11" and coming first, a more entry-level Audi R8/Porsche 99 competitor, the "P8" and a successor to the F1 supercar produced by McLaren Cars. McLaren Automotive expects the P11 to sell around 1,000 units per year, and the company to grow to around 4,000 per year once the P8 starts production.

Definitely an ambitious goal! The company plans to invest £250 million (around $325 million) into it's production facilites, as well as hiring 800 "skilled jobs" representing an "significant investment in the U.K auto industry". That should come as good news to the manufacturing sector in the economy. I can't wait to see the production vehicle's final design! The P11 will set the stage from all the future cars from the company.