McLaren sets ambitious targets

McLaren Automotive will be hoping that the economic storms buffeting emerging regions, such as Brazil, Russia and China (how long before China - already dumping steel - starts dumping cars in Europe), will not swamp its forecasts for this year and next.

The company, which is based in Woking, Surrey, U.K., sold 1,654 vehicles last year. It is forecasting to sell over 3,000 in 2016 and 4,000 in 2017 as it ramps up production.

By any stretch of imagination, these are ambitious robust forecasts. And one company, Ricardo plc, will be hoping McLaren's forecasting is rock solid.

Last year, McLaren received recognition for the third year running in the 3–4 litre category of the prestigious International Engine of the Year Awards, as it scored a hat trick of successes for its M838T 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, designed and developed in collaboration with Ricardo of Shoreham.

The M838T engine is fitted to the 650S Coupe and Spider. These are the core models in the McLaren Super Series. In addition to the collaboration on design and development, the McLaren M838T is assembled at a state-of-the-art engine production facility at Ricardo’s Shoreham Technical Centre.

The facility provides a near clean-room production environment in which each and every process is carried out according to strict, best-in-class quality principles and within a comprehensive ‘no faults forward’ culture.

Ricardo's manufacturing strategy reflects that of its customer which prides itself on the highest levels of manufacturing excellence.

Due to the success of the collaboration on the V8 engine – and the multi-year engine supply contract signed in late 2013 and relating to the years from 2016 onwards, this facility is currently being expanded to allow assembly of up to 5,000 engines per year.

This past year, McLaren has sold product in 30 markets worldwide. And demand for its products has led to a second shift at its MPC – McLaren Production Centre – and the creation of 250 jobs.

At McLaren, employees are directly responsible for their work. McLaren Automotive shares a site at the McLaren Technology Centre with other McLaren Technology Group companies that help "stimulate, nurture and develop innovative new ideas for our customers".

McLaren adds: "We also have our own unique, purpose-built state-of-the-art McLaren Production Centre which ensures every car we produce is worthy of the McLaren badge."

It concludes: "This means that we can design, engineer, develop, test, produce and market our cars from one location. Our high performing culture is based around five company values. Together they create a collaborative, innovative and inspiring place to do our best work."