Friday 5th January 2018

McLaren and Aston announce record sales

Nobody wants diesels but they do want Brit sports cars, as the latest results reveal

---

2018 will be yet another busy year for both McLaren and Aston Martin: the former will embrace its first full year of 720S sales (plus bring the Senna to market), while the latter is launching the new Vantage - arguably its most important release since the original.

That both are going into this year off the back of record results in 2017 is remarkably good news then. The bald stats show that McLaren sold 3,340 cars and Aston Martin 5,117, with both driven by strong performances in North America.

For the McLaren, the majority of sales came from the Sports Series cars - 540C, 570S, 570GT and 570S Spider - which accounted for 2,119 sales, a small increase from 2016. Encouragingly many of those buyers are said to be new to the brand. Interestingly too, the 720S sold as well in the six months it was available last year - 1,221 units, to be precise - as the 650S did in the whole of 2016. Woking is now building up to 20 cars a day.

"With a strong order bank stretching well into this summer, it is expected that close to half of 2018 sales will derive from the Super Series", said McLaren CEO, Mike Flewitt. Don't forget that's in addition to the Ultimate Series cars all being sold out, and another 15 new products coming as part of the Track22 plan. Bright times seemingly ahead for McLaren...

Those Aston figures represent the first time since 2008 that sales have surpassed 5,000, Gaydon citing "sell-out demand for its DB11 model and special vehicles including the Vanquish Zagato and Vantage GT8" as key contributors.

Manufacturing for Aston is said to be at nine-year high, with retail sales up 58 per cent against 2016. Imagine where that will go once St Athan is complete and the DBX is in production (it's not far off either).

Andy Palmer added to the results, saying "We continue to perform ahead of expectations, both in terms of financial performance and in meeting our targets... Phase Two of the programme [Second Century] will be largely completed in 2018 with the introduction of the Vanquish replacement and production of the new Vantage."

Demand and expectations are high for both, so those after a new McLaren or Aston Martin could well be waiting a while. What luck that some are already for sale... This DB11 is £140K and in a rather nice spec, with this Vanquish S offering something sharper (and arguably more exciting) at £180,000. Finally, if you simply must have a 720S right this moment, be prepared to dig deep: this Launch Edition with Performance Pack is for sale at £288,895.

[sidesauce]

This great news for both brands; despite the naysayers of cars like the Senna, the people who actually have the required folding have voted with their wallets. This is what it's all about - making money from product sales, not appeasing people on here!

[LotusOmega375D]

Those are very impressive numbers, particularly from McLaren who were at 0 units only 7 years ago. Compare that with long-established Lotus churning out barely half that number of cars at a much lower unit price. Shows that there is still a market out there for these sort of cars.

[Cold]

LotusOmega375D said:

Those are very impressive numbers, particularly from McLaren who were at 0 units only 7 years ago. Compare that with long-established Lotus churning out barely half that number of cars at a much lower unit price. Shows that there is still a market out there for these sort of cars.

Ah, but according to long established PH expertise Lotus should stick to making stripped out niche MX5 sized cars and sell them for 28p instead of trying to grab a chunk of the more profitable market.

Good news for Aston and McLaren. Looking forward to seeing how things pan out in 2018.

[p1stonhead]

LotusOmega375D said:

Those are very impressive numbers, particularly from McLaren who were at 0 units only 7 years ago. Compare that with long-established Lotus churning out barely half that number of cars at a much lower unit price. Shows that there is still a market out there for these sort of cars.

McLaren have had a staggeringly good start to their road car plan. simply amazing.

And the exact opposite of their F1 side somehow!

[treeroy]

So Mclaren is selling thousands of cars... and yet despite living in a rich part of the country I have never ever seen one. Don't think I have seen any post-DB9 Aston martin either... though I could be wrong as they all look the same

[p1stonhead]

treeroy said:

So Mclaren is selling thousands of cars... and yet despite living in a rich part of the country I have never ever seen one. Don't think I have seen any post-DB9 Aston martin either... though I could be wrong as they all look the same

Where do you live? I see either an Aston or McLaren at least weekly.

[HighwayStar]

treeroy said:

So Mclaren is selling thousands of cars... and yet despite living in a rich part of the country I have never ever seen one. Don't think I have seen any post-DB9 Aston martin either... though I could be wrong as they all look the same

Those thousands of cars aren't just being sold in the UK... There are a few Mclarens round my way, Colchester. We have Porsche and Ferrari dealerships here but I rarely see any of those on the road. I could go weeks without seeing another Cayman when I'm out in mine...

What's you real point... Are you saying you doubt/don't believe the McLaren and Aston numbers?

[Cold]

HighwayStar said:

What's you real point... Are you saying you doubt/don't believe the McLaren and Aston numbers?

Certainly sounds like it. Either that or it's an admission of a missed Specsavers appointment.

[captain_cynic]

p1stonhead said:

treeroy said:

So Mclaren is selling thousands of cars... and yet despite living in a rich part of the country I have never ever seen one. Don't think I have seen any post-DB9 Aston martin either... though I could be wrong as they all look the same

Where do you live? I see either an Aston or McLaren at least weekly.

Used to work in North-Western Surrey... it wouldn't be odd to see a McLaren on the commute home every few weeks (mostly near the Frimley hospital for some reason).

However not all McLarens sold... would have been sold in the UK. I imagine there's a lot of demand from the US, ME and Europe.

[PAUL500]

When high cost, completely non essential items are flying out the door is that not a good indication there is too much "theoretical" play money washing around? just like bitcoins etc.

Scary times, I am sure its the new emperors clothes, what happens when the music finally stops and there are not enough chairs to go around?

[indapendentlee]

Yipper said:

Despite the hype, those 2017 numbers are a disaster for McLaren.

Sales growth has slammed to a halt.

2015 = 1654 cars sold worldwide.
2016 = 3286 / +99% YoY growth.
2017 = 3340 / +2% YoY growth.

Behind the scenes, McLaren will be panicking.

I think there is more going on than it may seem. I'd venture the issues are not demand related and are more likely to do with production issues in a year when their two biggest sellers have only just gone on sale (720 and 570 Spider) which is always likely to stretch production capability.

Not that it's not cause for concern but I wouldn't say they're panicking just yet, it seems the owners have put to bed looking for an exit (for now) too so there could well be a slightly longer term view being taken.

[anonymous-user]

Yipper said:

Despite the hype, those 2017 numbers are a disaster for McLaren.

Sales growth has slammed to a halt.

2015 = 1654 cars sold worldwide.
2016 = 3286 / +99% YoY growth.
2017 = 3340 / +2% YoY growth.

Behind the scenes, McLaren will be panicking.

Really, just stop posting such nonsense. All you do is reaffirm what a sad lonely moron you must be.

[Yipper]

The McLaren numbers are bad!

Sales growth has slammed to a halt.

2013 = 1359 cars sold worldwide.
2014 = 1648 / +21% YoY growth.
2015 = 1654 / +0% YoY growth.
2016 = 3286 / +99% YoY growth.
2017 = 3340 / +2% YoY growth.

[David87]

Seems there are many, many folk richer than myself. I’m in Essex and know of numerous McLarens locally, as well as a similar number of Aston Martins. I’d absolutely love a new Vantage, but am literally too poor to afford one. Bloody children!

[anonymous-user]

It’s absolutely awesome that we have two British car manufacturers doing so well and producing such wonderful products.

It was not that long ago when the British car manufacturering industry looked dead and buried.

[ChilliWhizz]

Wondering if TVR will join the party with strong sales, be great to see McLaren Aston and TVR (and Morgan) up there together

[treeroy]

p1stonhead said:

Where do you live? I see either an Aston or McLaren at least weekly.

I live near Cambridge. There is actually an Aston Martin dealer in a nearby village but I never see one. Tesla on the other hand, see loads of those things. Lots of Porsches.

HighwayStar said:

Those thousands of cars aren't just being sold in the UK... There are a few Mclarens round my way, Colchester. We have Porsche and Ferrari dealerships here but I rarely see any of those on the road. I could go weeks without seeing another Cayman when I'm out in mine...

What's you real point... Are you saying you doubt/don't believe the McLaren and Aston numbers?

No, just grumbling that I have never seen one of those cars! It's not fair... if they sell thousands then I should get to see them on the roads... :P

[_Sorted_]

PAUL500 said:

When high cost, completely non essential items are flying out the door is that not a good indication there is too much "theoretical" play money washing around? just like bitcoins etc.

Scary times, I am sure its the new emperors clothes, what happens when the music finally stops and there are not enough chairs to go around?

This ^^^

[ChilliWhizz]

treeroy said:

I live near Cambridge. There is actually an Aston Martin dealer in a nearby village but I never see one. Tesla on the other hand, see loads of those things. Lots of Porsches.

Back in September there was a run from the dealer you mention to Classic and Sports cars by the Lake just outside Bury, convey of about 30 Astons on the A14

I live in Norfolk, and in the last year (apart from shows/events and track days) I've only seen one other Aston on the road and not one McLaren...

[p1stonhead]

_Sorted_ said:

PAUL500 said:

When high cost, completely non essential items are flying out the door is that not a good indication there is too much "theoretical" play money washing around? just like bitcoins etc.

Scary times, I am sure its the new emperors clothes, what happens when the music finally stops and there are not enough chairs to go around?

This ^^^

I think you underestimate how many stupendously wealthy people there are in the world to whom McLaren money is like us buying a Mars Bar.