Barely months after Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat took over McLaren Group, the storied British marque is changing hands once more. McLaren Automotive, the creator of supercars with racing DNA, now has a new suitor, CYVN Holdings from Abu Dhabi, who’s looking to take on 100% ownership of the car-making arm, just seven months after Mumtalakat's buyout.

The deal is still non-binding, but if it goes ahead, CYVN Holdings will secure a majority of McLaren Automotive and a minority stake in the larger McLaren Group, which includes McLaren Racing. Together, these two would explore a future heavily oriented towards electric vehicles. Mumtalakat lauded the investment as “transformative,” suggesting that McLaren could benefit from CYVN’s additional capital, cutting-edge engineering, and pioneering EV tech. 

Since 2022, McLaren has been under the leadership of former Ferrari CTO Michael Leiters, who’s had a busy few years refreshing McLaren’s lineup. The Artura hybrid sports car, 750S supercar, and the W1 hypercar - the much-anticipated successor to the legendary P1, have all debuted under his tenure. Leiters has not shied away from acknowledging the brand’s challenges, noting that McLaren was dealing with “non-mature products” when he came on board. Quality issues plagued the Artura, prompting a temporary halt to sales earlier in 2023, but Leiters remains steadfast in pushing for a refined and ambitious future.

McLaren's new owners seem poised to continue this trajectory, with CYVN’s investment promising to open new doors. Rumors of a front-wheel-drive sports car and even an electric SUV have been circulating for a while. Whether either of those becomes a reality, only time will tell, but McLaren’s new backers could very well push the brand into uncharted, electrified territory.