Mercedes Benz

Mike Flewitt: "I'm not against SUVs. They are just not what McLaren does." WEST SUSSEX, England — McLaren Automotive is planning a powertrain transformation. The British automaker, synonymous with throaty V-8s, is in the early days of exploring a full-electric vehicle that could arrive by 2025. It is part of an ambitious plan to convert McLaren's sports car and supercar fleet to hybrids by 2025 as the auto industry prepares for tighter emission standards around the world. During last month's Goodwood Festival of Speed here, McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt, 56, spoke with Staff Reporter Urvaksh Karkaria about the automaker's electrification plans and global expansion outlook. Q: What's moving McLaren toward an all-hybrid fleet and eventually an all- electric supercar? A: China is very aggressive about emission standards. The world is going in that direction. I think legislation will drive us in that direction, and we need to be ready. The only way we can meet e...