McLaren Group re-brands and expands office space
McLaren has announced they are renaming the McLaren Group to McLaren Technology Group in an attempt to reflect the company's move to 'a diversified high-technology company'.
McLaren is increasingly trying to extract its knowledge from motorsport into other undustries such as oil and gas, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, aviation and financial services.
Explaining the change, Ron Dennis CBE, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the McLaren Technology Group said: "McLaren is a company with the expertise and innovative culture required to make a positive impact on the world.
“We have long proven our capabilities on the world’s racetracks, and Formula 1 racing is and will always be a core area of activity for us. Racing fuels our competitive spirit, it is our crucible of innovation, it enables us to attract the world’s best engineers, scientists and data analysts, and the enormous popularity of Formula 1 provides a unique global marketing platform. We exist to win, and nothing will ever divert McLaren Racing’s focus away from that ambition.
“However, some time ago we set McLaren on a path of diversification, and as a result we are today far more than just a racing team. The McLaren companies now employ more than 3000 people, three-quarters of whom are not involved in motorsport. Technology drives everything we do – creating the world’s most advanced road cars, working with blue-chip companies to enhance their performance and their products, and/or developing the world’s most robust electronic control systems. Our new name therefore reflects our ever-increasing focus on innovation and the creation of disruptive technologies that will have a positive and far-reaching impact.
“McLaren Applied Technologies has already established an enviable reputation as one of the world’s most innovative technology companies, and its shareholders will continue to provide the investment and the support it requires to grow – and grow quickly. With that support and direction, we are confident that the entire McLaren Technology Group can make a positive difference in the years to come.”
The company that has developed into today’s McLaren Technology Group was formed 52 years ago, targeting motorsport before starting to diversify approximately 25 years ago with the decision to start up McLaren Electronics. The company later started to develop and manufacture roadgoing supercars, beginning with the iconic McLaren F1 in 1993, before establishing McLaren Automotive, which today produces the world’s most technologically advanced high-performance production sports cars.
The company has also embarqued on a plan to further expand McLaren, starting with a new office building that must facilitate McLaren Applied Technologies’ planned growth. An application was filed for the construction of a new 'applied technology centre’ of 57,000 square metres (gross internal area), including additional aerodynamic research facilities, workshops, research and development space, offices, meeting rooms, teaching and training space, and vehicle preparation and assembly areas, thereby doubling the existing McLaren Technology Group footprint.
