McLaren Ownership and History
We at McLaren Chicago are rather obsessed with McLaren. We simply can’t get enough of how naturally these sleek supercars take to the Windy City’s streets. If we’re not driving a McLaren, or thinking about driving one, we’re likely thinking about the brand itself.
One question that curious folk sometimes ask is, who (or what) is actually behind this storied brand? Who holds the proverbial keys to the company itself; who owns McLaren?
In a refreshingly straightforward turn of events, McLaren is owned by the McLaren Group. This has been the case since July 2017, when McLaren became a 100% owned subsidiary of the wider McLaren Group.
What is the difference between McLaren and the McLaren Group, you ask? To elucidate the answer to that, we’ll have to go back into the history and origins of the brand.
You may enjoy learning about this sweet LEGO® McLaren.
What is the McLaren Group?
Bruce McLaren started a Formula One racing team under his name in 1966. In 1981, a man named Ron Dennis purchased the McLaren racing team and founded the McLaren Group. At that time, it was called the TAG McLaren Group.
McLaren began producing its first road car in 1992 in the form of the McLaren F1. This model held many similarities to its Formula One racing car.
In 2015, the organization was renamed the McLaren Technology Group. In June 2017, it was announced that Ron Dennis had sold his 25% shareholdings in the company to other shareholders, as well as his McLaren Automotive shares. After that, the McLaren Technology Group was merged with McLaren Automotive. The result was the creation of a new company bearing the McLaren Group name.
Now, a new era for the brand has begun with the reveal of the McLaren Artura.
Does Mercedes own McLaren?
Though Mercedes-Benz has worked with McLaren in the past, it no longer owns any portion of the brand. These two esteemed automakers worked together back in the day to produce the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. At that time, Mercedes owned 11% of the group. However, the brand left the gang of McLaren Group owners when it sold its remaining shares.
McLaren models are known for cutting-edge tech such as the Active Dynamics Panel.
