3 min read - 17 Sep, 2026
McLaren Automotive to invest £500m in UK operations
McLaren Automotive is investing more than £500m to expand its manufacturing and engineering operations in the UK, and accelerate the development of its next-generation models.
The investment forms part of a larger commitment from McLaren Automotive shareholder L’IMAD, a sovereign investor of the Government of Abu Dhabi, and reinforces McLaren’s commitment to Britain, where Bruce McLaren founded the company in 1963.
The investment programme will expand McLaren Automotive’s production capability, increasing vehicle output to ensure its next-generation vehicles are built in Britain, including a newly confirmed performance SUV. This will be made possible by a new vehicle assembly facility planned in the UK.
For the first time in its history, McLaren Automotive’s future powertrains will be designed and built in-house, starting with two new engines and transmissions. This will support the company’s hybrid engine strategy, building on its pioneering use of hybrid technology, which started with the McLaren P1™.
McLaren Automotive is investing £500m to boost its manufacturing and engineering operations in the UK / Picture: McLaren Automotive
McLaren Automotive will also expand operations at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking and its carbon-fibre manufacturing and research facility in South Yorkshire at the McLaren Composites Technology Centre.
The company has recently opened two new UK sites – a design and innovation centre at the McLaren Creation Centre in Bicester, and a testing and vehicle development facility in the Midlands. Together with its Woking headquarters and carbon-fibre facility in South Yorkshire, they form an integrated UK operation, from design through to advanced manufacturing.
Nick Collins, chief executive officer 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 investment will create 1,000 new UK jobs by 2032, including in Woking and South Yorkshire / Picture: McLaren Automotive
The programme will create at least 1,000 new direct and indirect jobs across McLaren’s UK operations by 2032, while safeguarding existing roles. McLaren Automotive’s manufacturing workforce is set to double in the UK, supported by new apprenticeships to develop the next generation of talent.
McLaren Automotive’s plans will also support the growth of the UK industry. Up to 3,000 additional jobs are expected to be created across the supply chain, bolstering the British automotive sector and boosting exports.
Jassem Al Zaabi, managing director and chief executive officer of L’IMAD, added: “Over the past 20 months, L’IMAD has worked closely with McLaren Automotive’s management team, supporting the business in sharpening its strategic direction and positioning itself for long-term growth. This investment reflects our confidence in its potential and our commitment to backing the business through its next chapter, building on the heritage, engineering excellence, and distinctive brand that has defined McLaren for more than six decades.”
