It’s official: McLaren Group has a new owner. Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, has acquired the entire automaker, increasing its stake from 60% to 100%.
There are few clear details on what this could mean for McLaren Automotive. The group’s executive chairman, Paul Walsh, said the move “will allow us to focus more on delivering on our long-term business plan”. This will involve investing in new products and technologies.
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McLaren Automotive likely now has the financial backing it needs to fund the development of future models and electrify its lineup. The supercar maker has faced money problems in recent years, selling some of its historic vehicles in 2022 to finance the delayed Artura supercar. A year before, McLaren sold its Formula 1 headquarters and factory.
The company got a new CEO in 2022 and launched the 750S in 2023, the successor to the successful 720S. It also introduced an updated version of its practical supercar late last year, transforming the GT into the GTS.
There are rumors that the company could launch its new hypercar by the end of the year. McLaren is already “tweaking” it, which would feature a plug-in hybrid V8 engine developing more than 1,000 horsepower. It would ditch the brand’s dihedral doors for gull-wing doors, get an all-new carbon fiber chassis, and feature 3D-printed suspension components.
Months after Michael Leiters took charge of McLaren, he admitted that older models were “immature products”. The new owners are expected to help bring funding and stability to the company as it strives to grow, adapt and improve the quality of its product.
