11:53 am, September 16, 2026
Supercar maker McLaren Automotive is to invest £500m in its UK operations as part of a major expansion programme.
The performance brand has today (Sept 16) announced plans to expand UK production, develop new powertrains and launch a performance SUV.
This will include a new vehicle assembly facility in the UK, increasing production capacity for the next generation of McLaren models.
McLaren says its existing facilities in Woking and South Yorkshire will also be expanded, with the McLaren Production Centre and McLaren Composites Technology Centre playing key roles in the enlarged operation.
The firm will also design and build its own powertrains in Britain for the first time in its history, starting with two new engines and transmissions.
The company has recently added a design and innovation centre in Bicester and a testing and vehicle development facility in the Midlands.
Together, the sites will create an integrated UK operation covering design, engineering, advanced manufacturing and vehicle development.
At least 1,000 new direct and indirect jobs are expected to be created across McLaren’s UK operations by 2032, while its manufacturing workforce is set to double.
The programme will also include new apprenticeships, while McLaren estimates that up to 3,000 additional jobs could be created across its wider supply chain.
The investment is being funded by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor, L’imad, which is also a major shareholder in McLaren.
Confirming the news, Nick Collins, chief executive of McLaren Group Holdings and McLaren Automotive, said: ‘This investment gives us the platform to grow, develop and build on what makes us distinctive, while investing in the people, technologies and products that will keep us competitive for decades to come.’
The news was also welcomed by politicians and industry experts, who say the investment reflects the UK’s position as a ‘global leader in high-performance automotive design’.
PM Andy Burnham said: ‘McLaren Automotive is doubling down on Britain, keeping the design, the engineering and the building of every future car here, and taking on a thousand more people to do it.
‘Their investment will create high-quality apprenticeships, jobs and drive growth far beyond their factory gates. It is how you get skilled work, decent wages and pride back into a place.
‘It is this kind of partnership between government and business that will help us reindustrialise communities and make every part of Britain better off. I want young people to see that and know there is a future for them in making things, wherever they grew up.’
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, added: ‘McLaren’s £500m investment and creation of 1,000 new jobs is a major boost to the UK and evidence of automotive’s ability to deliver skilled, high value jobs, economic growth and innovation.
‘This commitment strengthens our position as a global leader in high-performance automotive design, engineering and advanced manufacturing, anchoring new products, skills and technologies in Britain.
‘It further underlines the UK automotive sector’s strong fundamentals on which we must build with the right competitive conditions to deliver long-term growth.’