McLaren States That Manufacturing Outside the UK Is a Possibility

      Chris J. Ratcliffe/AFP via Getty Images

      Subscribe to The Drive’s daily newsletter

      Stay updated with the latest car news, reviews, and features.

      Several weeks ago, Lotus caught the attention of car enthusiasts when it was reported that the British sports car manufacturer was contemplating halting production at its historic Hethel facility in the U.K. and relocating to the U.S. Fortunately, this shift appears to have been averted, largely thanks to the intervention of the British government. Nevertheless, it highlighted a significant issue: In this current climate of tariffs and localized production, every automaker is looking into diversifying its manufacturing operations. In a recent statement, the newly appointed CEO of McLaren indicated that while the brand will continue to base its supercar manufacturing in Woking, it remains open to the idea of producing vehicles outside the U.K. when appropriate.

      We spoke with Nick Collins during Monterey Car Week earlier this month. McLaren has undergone significant developments in 2025, including a merger with EV startup Forseven and a reduction of approximately 500 jobs. Collins oversees both McLaren Automotive and McLaren Group Holdings, the broader entity formed from the merger.

      Regarding racing, the company has recently unveiled plans to participate in the highest tier of endurance racing. Unless unforeseen events occur, McLaren is expected to secure both the Formula 1 drivers' and constructors' championships in the coming months. Although there are challenges in the car sales sector, one could argue the brand is stronger than ever.

      “We found ourselves slightly overstocked globally through our dealers,” Collins shared with us. “So, in the very first week [after the merger], we had to make the tough choice to cut our production volume, aligning supply with actual demand to reduce stock levels at our retailers to an ideal state by the end of the year. This will support residual values of our cars, making our customers happier because their vehicles will hold more value when they trade them in. We aim to stabilize the business. These are all fairly standard decisions in the automotive world, but the speed of our decision-making has been clear.”

      Three generations of McLaren flagship hypercars. McLaren

      Despite upcoming changes at McLaren, one constant will be supercar production at what Collins describes as the geographic "soul of the company": the McLaren Technology and Production Centers. “That’s going to be the home for a very long time,” he affirmed. Still, Collins added—without going into too much detail—that “there may be instances where it makes sense to produce in different locations,” depending on the optimal capacity of Woking.

      “What I aim to achieve in Woking is a smooth operational level, at near maximum capacity,” Collins explained. “I won’t specify a volume figure, as it needs to be a capacity that delivers world-class quality.”

      Collins stated that McLaren’s current production standard is “the highest quality cars we’ve ever produced,” and also acknowledged “the contributions of the previous leadership team that helped bring us to this point from a challenging situation.” Collins took over from former CEO Michael Leiters in April.

      “Our sole aim is to be the best in the world in terms of quality. I don’t want to push production to a point where we start compromising that. We must identify the optimum operational level and then strive to manage that facility effectively.”

      The question remains about what McLaren might choose to manufacture outside its headquarters. The much-anticipated SUV that’s been in speculation for years seems to be the most likely candidate. Additionally, whatever fully electric vehicles are on the horizon for the distinguished brand could also be influenced by its partnership with a young company that possesses considerable expertise in that area.

      Have any tips? Share them at [email protected]