Audi to buy McLaren Group, report says; brand denies rumours

In a shock move, Volkswagen-owned German car giant Audi will reportedly purchase the McLaren Group – according to overseas reports – but an official statement from the British manufacturer has stomped the brakes on news of an acquisition.

Sources close to the UK's Autocar claim Audi has reached an understanding to purchase the McLaren Group, including its road car division, and its Formula One team – though the McLaren Applied technologies division would be excluded, following its individual sale earlier this year.

The Formula One team would be of key importance, Autocar reports, as it would allow Audi “direct access” into the sport, following numerous recent reports the German brand (and its Volkswagen parent) is considering an entry into the top-tier category around 2026.

The deal would also place McLaren – which lost its existing CEO late last month – under the same roof as key supercar rival Lamborghini, and within the same Volkswagen Group umbrella as Porsche, Bugatti and electric specialist Rimac.

In an official statement, McLaren Group denied the rumours, stating: "McLaren Group is aware of a news media report stating it has been sold to Audi. This is wholly inaccurate and McLaren is seeking to have the story removed."

"McLaren’s technology strategy has always involved ongoing discussions and collaboration with relevant partners and suppliers, including other carmakers, however, there has been no change in the ownership structure of the McLaren Group."

In an earlier version of its report, Autocar claimed the initial proposal put forward by Audi and the Volkswagen Group was refused by McLaren's board of directors, before an understanding was reached to purchase the Group for an unspecified amount from its current owners – including a majority stake held by companies associated with the Kingdom of Bahrain.

News from the British publication's sources follows reports from Germany's Automobilwoche over the weekend that German rival BMW was also considering an acquisition of McLaren – with talks to commence next month – though BMW later said the reports were "wrong".

The same Automobilwoche report also claimed Audi was looking at purchasing McLaren's Formula One arm – with Audi later stating to Reuters it was "open to cooperation opportunities", seemingly paving the way for the Autocar report.