Bahraini owners are looking to exit McLaren

[jonwat]

Today's Times reports:

McLaren’s owners, led by Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat, have spent £1.5 billion bankrolling the business over the past four years alone. Now investor patience seems to have run out. Wall Street investment bank JP Morgan has been hired to find new “strategic partners” ahead of Bahrain selling a controlling stake in McLaren, City sources said. 

[jep]

No surprise. Car division is in tatters, Artura not selling. Factory already sold (leased back). 

It is impossible to make cars these days and have a sustainable business unless you are very small (niche like Zonda) or have some volume. Min seems to be circa 10,000 pa, probably more. 

McLaren targeted 5,000 pa back in 2010, it didn't happen. Lack of new models and refusal to do SUV has done for them.

Nowadays, even 5000 pa ain't gonna do it, unless your margins are enormous - which they aren't. 

Justin 

[exeterjeep]

https://cardealermagazine.co.uk/publish/could-tesla-become-a-bidder-for-supercar-maker-mclaren-as-investors-call-time-on-losses/298991

Could Tesla become a bidder for supercar maker McLaren as investors ‘call time on losses’?
Reports suggest McLaren’s biggest shareholder is fed up of pumping cash into car maker
The Sunday Times suggest Chinese firms and Tesla have been approached 
Some £1.5bn has been stumped up by shareholders to keep firm afloat in just four years

[Bibs]

Geely seem to have a taste to get into F1 and have recently received funds from floating Lotus. Just saying! 

[Stirling_Villeneuve]

Floated but sinking a little, nice thought though... Lotus and McLaren might just make a decent Esprit happen between them, McF1's looking good at the moment too.

[Kimbers]

3 hours ago, Stirling_Villeneuve said:

Floated but sinking a little, nice thought though... Lotus and McLaren might just make a decent Esprit happen between them, McF1's looking good at the moment too.

Nah they would instantly cancel everything unless it was EV. 

[Stirling_Villeneuve]

I gather McLaren have a V8Hybrid in development... 

[jonwat]

Bahrain takes full control of supercar brand McLaren

[jep]

Sands of time