McLaren affirms both 911- fighter and sub - P1 version
McLaren Automotive turned a profit in 2013 -- which was ahead of schedule -- and plans to remain in the black while sharply adding versions and dealers over the next three years.The market brand's success comes just three year after the carmaking arm of Formula One's McLaren Group was formed. Without being specific, Flewitt said the Woking, England-based firm made a "few million pounds" in operating profit this past year.
News of the positive results has given shareholders confidence the daring notion to begin an U.K.-based supercar manufacturer in the midst of a deep and long European auto recession is working, Flewitt said. In addition, it demonstrates that the business can be successful away from its former associate, Daimler's Mercedes Benz.
McLaren Group chairman and F1 team figurehead Ron Dennis took a huge gamble late last decade when he persuaded shareholders to put money into a brand new business focused on making supercars. Unlike the SLR McLaren that the company built between 2003 and 2009 for Mercedes, the automaker that is new would manage with no approval of any leading maker, which some specialists consider leaves it vulnerable.
"It's frequently true that highly specialist carmakers gain from being part of a larger automotive group, not least because development costs are generally high and so being able to tap into research elsewhere in the business is a big advantage," Jonathon Poskitt, head of European sales forecasting at LMC Automotive, told Automotive News Europe.
Previous success
McLaren had formerly created a supercar alone, but the business merely made 107 of the critically acclaimed F1, that was established in 1994.
The plan will be to foster quantity CEO said to 3,500 to 4,000 cars a year by 2016, the. By comparison, rival Ferrari sold last year autos 6,922 . To accomplish its aim, Flewitt said McLaren next year will establish its most affordable supercar, which will start at about 120,000 pounds ($201,852) and sit below the newly established $328,430 650S, which replaced the 12C.
Singly, a company spokesman confirmed McLaren will start a fourth supercar, that will fit in above the 650S and. P1 below the $1,457,000 The new car is expected in 2016, which would help Flewitt attain his stated goal of launching an all- form or new auto every year up.
Sharing technology
Flewitt said McLaren Automotive spent $118,000,000 last develop to year new models, up from $114,400,000 in 2012.
Like automakers that are larger, McLaren saves by sharing technology between models. The new, entry-level car expected next year, dubbed the P13 internally, will use a version of the carbon fiber tub chassis that's also at the center of the P1 and the 650S, Flewitt said. The new car also is expected to use a less powerful variant of the turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 found in the current lineup.
Spread prices will be helped by the extra quantity created with the addition of the P13. "You really make a smaller margin on that car," Flewitt said, "but a bigger margin on the 650S because some of the overhead is shared across a greater quantity." The Poskitt of lMC believes that McLaren Automotive's ability to tap into the parent group's F1 specialist knowledge in places like carbon-fiber building will keep a lid on costs.
No SUVs, more stores
Thus far the firm has ruled out making assembling sports cars or SUVs with two small seats in the back as Porsche has with the 911.
Moreover, the company will add another 20 car dealers this year, increasing its global total. Another goal is 100 dealerships by 2016, CFO Richard Molyneux told Automotive News Europe. Like Flewitt, who was Ford of the head of fabricating of Europe before joining McLaren in 2012, Molyneux has expertise managing prices at a volume automaker from his time as Opel/Vauxhall's finance manager of product development and purchasing.
Between them, both executives are realistic about the chances of attaining profit margins to match those of Ferrari or Porsche.
When pushed on when McLaren could attain that, he laughed and said, "Come back in five years and ask me."
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