McLaren Is Building an SUV, and It's Investing $669 Million to Do ItAutoblogEarl LeeThu, September 17, 2026 at 2:15 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleAutoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Accelerating PlansMcLaren Automotive has just announced plans for its future plans. The British marque will invest £500 million GBP, or the equivalent of $669,090,000 at the time of writing, to expand its UK manufacturing, engineering, and operations.Next-generation models will come sooner, as the investment will spur the brand forward. In addition to new models and innovations, McLaren also plans to employ more people, add new segments to its portfolio, and build its own engines in-house.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe investment is part of a larger commitment from McLaren Automotive's shareholder, L'IMAD, a sovereign investor of the Abu Dhabi Government. The brand is staying straight in its home country of Britain, the same birthplace of the legendary McLaren F1.16/09/2026. Woking, United Kingdom. Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade pose with staff as he visits McLaren Technology Centre. Picture by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing StreetMcLarenProduction Expansion and a New Performance SUVWith a lot of money flowing in, McLaren finds itself in a position of opportunity. What it does with those resources remains to be seen, but the brand has already mapped out its future plans. Expanding production capabilities is one of the plan's highlights. McLaren Automotive is looking to increase vehicle production and ensure it all happens in Britain.The company will also dip its toes into a new segment, making its design, technology, and engineering chops available for discerning SUV customers. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this further confirms that McLaren is going to build a performance SUV in the U.K. Connecting the dots, it looks like we can finally expect a hybrid, performance-oriented SUV from the brand.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."McLarenIn-HouseBeyond its production and product expansion plans, McLaren is also working to bring powertrain development in-house. Once fully realized, the endeavor will mark the first time in the brand's history that McLaren will create its engines and hybrid systems for McLaren vehicles. The in-house plans also extend to transmissions, and the brand aims to take its hybrid engine strategy to the next level, which began with the McLaren P1.AdvertisementAdvertisementMcLaren has not directly confirmed it will go in-house for its new SUV's powertrain. It may be too early to tell, though.The investment will also expand the McLaren Production Center's operations and its carbon fiber manufacturing and research facility in South Yorkshire at the McLaren Composites Technology Center.McLarenNew JobsThe investment is also expected to create new jobs. McLaren plans to create at least 1,000 new direct and indirect jobs across McLaren Automotive by 2032. The company's workforce is set to double in the U.K., and it is also pushing apprenticeships to secure the next generation of talent.Furthermore, the company estimates that up to 3,000 additional jobs will be created across the British automotive supply chain. All of these will help McLaren deliver better production capabilities in the U.K.AdvertisementAdvertisementJassem Al Zaabi, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of L'IMAD, said: "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."McLarenThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
+57 others
