Supercar maker McLaren Automotive today announces it has joined the membership of Walpole, the British luxury representative body, taking its place alongside leading British brands such as Burberry, Fortnum & Mason and Claridge’s.

Joining Walpole, whose mission is to promote and enhance the British luxury sector across the world, will help to reinforce McLaren’s luxury brand positioning, which is based on its pioneering technology, innovative design, the powerful performance of its supercars and a luxurious ownership experience.

As a member of Walpole, McLaren is also able to link into Walpole’s extensive global luxury network. This includes the European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance (ECCIA), the European high-end and luxury industries’ association of which Walpole was a founding member.

ECCIA is composed of six European high-end cultural and creative industries organisations - Altagamma (Italy), Circulo Fortuny (Spain), Comité Colbert (France), Gustav III Committee (Sweden), Meisterkreis (Germany) and Walpole (UK) – who between them represent over 600 high-end and luxury brands and luxury groups including Kering and LVMH.

Walpole, headed by CEO Helen Brocklebank, also runs regular trade missions to the US, a key market for McLaren and the wider British luxury sector, in collaboration with the UK Government.

A leader in the UK’s high-end luxury car sector, McLaren is part of the niche automotive industry which accounts for over 65% of the overall value of sales in the luxury sector according to Walpole’s 2019 economic impact study. 

McLaren Automotive’s membership commences in advance of the global reveal of Artura, the company’s first series-production high-performance hybrid supercar and the first of its line-up to use an innovative new lightweight architecture - designed and built at McLaren’s new advanced composites facility in Yorkshire – which will underpin the company’s next generation of electrified supercars.

Drawing on decades of expertise in race and road car engineering, McLaren has a focus on reducing vehicle weight to improve performance and energy efficiency, a philosophy it believes will have wider application beyond its supercars as the world looks to reduce emissions.

McLaren already works and partners with some of the world’s most renowned luxury brands including Richard Mille with whom it co-creates limited edition watches as well as emerging British brands such as premium sportswear company Castore.

“I’m absolutely delighted that McLaren Automotive has joined Walpole and its illustrious roster of members who truly cover the incredible breadth and depth of the British luxury sector, from supercars to fashion, shoes to hotels and start-ups to established global brands.

“What each of us share is a commitment to quality, discerning our customers’ needs and elevating the customer experience. For us at McLaren, we also believe that some of the technologies and approaches we have pioneered are relevant beyond the supercar segment and map onto deeper concerns that the British luxury industry, and Walpole members in particular, are grappling with. I’m, therefore, looking forward to working with Helen, her team and the broader membership to drive greater collaboration in pursuit of our shared goals.”
Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive

“We are delighted to welcome McLaren Automotive to the Walpole fold. It is an incredibly exciting luxury brand with a parentage renowned for continuous innovation and has translated that outstanding pedigree into a stable of truly astonishing supercars. It has done much to add to and reinforce the reputation Britain has around the world for producing outstanding, innovative and truly desirable luxury.

“Walpole members represent the best of the best in the luxury sector and McLaren Automotive joins an array of brands who enhance the reputation of Global Britain, contributing significantly to the UK’s export sales. We are looking forward to working with the team as McLaren Automotive continues its journey, collaborating and partnering with other luxury brands.”
Helen Brocklebank, Chief Executive Officer, Walpole
_____________

Ends

Notes to editors:

A selection of high resolution images accompanying this release is available to download from the McLaren Automotive media site – cars.mclaren.press

About McLaren Automotive:
McLaren Automotive is a creator of luxury, high-performance supercars.

Every vehicle is hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in Woking, Surrey, England.

Launched in 2010, the company is now the largest part of the McLaren Group.

The company’s product portfolio of GT, Supercar, Motorsport and Ultimate models are retailed through over 85 retailers in 40 markets around the world.

McLaren is a pioneer that continuously pushes the boundaries. In 1981, it introduced lightweight and strong carbon fibre chassis into Formula 1 with the McLaren MP4/1.

Then in 1993 it designed and built the McLaren F1 road car - the company has not built a car without a carbon fibre chassis since. As part of the Ultimate Series, McLaren was the first to deliver a hybrid hypercar, the McLaren P1™.

2019 saw McLaren launch the 600LT Spider as well as the new GT, the track-only Senna GTR and unveiled the 620R and the McLaren Elva.

In 2020, McLaren launched the 765LT. In addition, it unveiled the all-new lightweight architecture innovated and manufactured at the £50m McLaren Composites Technology Centre opened in the Sheffield region in the North of England that will underpin the next decade of McLaren’s electrified future.

To support the development, engineering and manufacture of its range of innovative supercars, McLaren Automotive partners with world leading companies to provide specialist expertise, technology and solutions. These include AkzoNobel, Ashurst, Dell Technologies, Gulf, Pirelli, Richard Mille and Tumi.

McLaren Group:
The McLaren Group is a global leader in luxury automotive and technology and comprises three businesses: Automotive, Racing and Applied.

About Walpole:
Walpole represents more than 270 companies including Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Claridge’s, Glenfiddich, Harrods, NET-A-PORTER, Wedgwood and numerous small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which currently make up 60% of the sector, such as, Chapel Down, Ettinger, Floris and Savoir Beds.

Walpole promotes, protects and develops the unique qualities of UK luxury: the long tradition, rich heritage, superior craftsmanship, innovation, design, style, and impeccable service at the heart of the industry – currently worth over £48 billion to the UK economy, a leading creator of jobs and major contributor to the British economy. 

Further information:

Piers Scott
Global Director of PR & Marketing | McLaren Automotive Limited
Phone:+44 (0) 1483 241380
Mobile: +44 (0) 7387548837
Email: piers.scott@mclaren.com

Daniel Golding
Global Head of Corporate Communications | McLaren Automotive Limited
Phone:+44 (0) 1483 261500
Mobile: +44 (0) 7717 450469
Email: daniel.golding@mclaren.com

Media website: cars.mclaren.press
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mclarenautomotive
Twitter: www.twitter.com/McLarenAuto
You Tube: www.youtube.com/mclarenautomotivetv