McLaren could be facing problems when it comes to its much vaunted Track25 production plan, a road map of its future models and technology development.
The strategy – announced back in 2018 – was to launch 18 new models or derivatives with half of them being hybrid by 2022, but due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, its plans have had to be revised, along with anticipated timeframes.
On a positive note, the manufacturer will still be able to launch two cars as planned in 2020 – the 765LT and Elva Roadster.
McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt was quoted recently as saying “We have two cars to launch this year: 765LT and the Elva. And they’re both on plan to be launched, though [it’s] a bit more challenging than usual to get it done.”
“This will have interrupted our momentum,” he added. “This will have cost us probably two years. [In] 2020, we’re going to do very little. I think it’ll take us the whole of ’21 to climb back [to] where we are.”
“We’ve constrained a lot of programs and we’re focused on the programs that we’re going to deliver through the latter part of this year and into next year. So [for] things like the 765LT that we announced earlier this year, we have got a small team working on completing the development of this car.”
The pandemic hasn’t just affected the supercar side of the business, with the McLaren Formula 1 team furloughing a number of the team’s staff. McLaren F1 boss Andrea Sidl was quoted as saying it was ‘one of the most difficult decisions’ of his life, whilst McLaren F1 drivers Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz Jr both agreed to pay cuts to aid the team.
Keyword: Coronavirus forces McLaren to delay Track25 production plan