McLaren doubles car sales 05 | 01 | 2017
SALES OF McLAREN cars doubled in 2016 over 2015. The Woking-based supercar maker sold 3286 cars in 2016, compared with 1654 in 2015. The surge in growth coincided with McLaren building its 10,000th production car.
The success also exceed McLaren’s own expectations: the company had expected to sell 3000 cars in 2016 but, led by the Sports Series cars – including the 570GT and 570S models — sold an additional 286 models. The Sports Series cars accounted for 2031 sales in 2016.
The best-selling single model across the range was the 570S. While it is the cheapest model across the range, it received significant media exposure in the hands of Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse young guns Sandy Mitchell and Ciaran Haggerty.
The two Scots teenagers powered their McLaren 570S GT4 to two victories in their maiden season contesting the British GT Championship. They were named joint Rookies of the Year in the ultra-competitive championship.
The more expensive and powerful Super Series cars, which includes the 675LT Coupe and Spider, accounted for the remaining 1255 sales over 2016.
McLaren doesn’t give sales forecasts; however, its ‘aspiration’ for 2017 is 4000 units globally, with 500 sales in the UK. McLaren Glasgow continues to be the company’s No1 Retailer in the World.
Related: McLaren plans hybrid future
“2016 was a remarkable year for McLaren Automotive,” Mike Flewitt (main picture), chief executive officer of McLaren Automotive, said. “We’d planned it to be a year of considerable growth, thanks to the first full year of Sports Series production, but it’s surpassed even our own optimistic expectations.”
McLaren’s largest market was North America and took around a third of all deliveries at 1139, while Europe took 996.
All of McLaren Automotive’s areas of business grew, with Europe growing the most at 153% and North America growing by 106%. 228 cars were sold in China.
Related: Roadtest — McLaren 570GT
Yesterday, McLaren revealed the new carbon fibre Monocage II which will be the core of the new replacement for the 650S; the new model will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
McLaren plans 15 new cars by 2022, comprising both derivatives and stand-alone models. Of these cars, at least 50 per cent will feature hybrid technology by the end of the Business Plan period. The Business Plan also includes the development of a fully-electric powertrain for a concept car to evaluate its possible use in a future Ultimate Series.
Related: Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse at McLaren Glasgow
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Jim McGill