McLaren Automotive announces new retail partner for Geneva 08.06.2012: Image caption [left-right]: Jerome Della Santa - Brand Manager, McLaren Geneva; Bernard Thuner

Image caption [left-right]: Jerome Della Santa - Brand Manager, McLaren Geneva; Bernard Thuner -Chief Executive, Autobritt S.A. Group; John Kraljevic - Managing Director, McLaren Geneva.


    McLaren Automotive confirms it will open its doors in Geneva in Autumn 2012


    British luxury brand specialist, Autobritt Grand-Pré SA, to represent McLaren in French-speaking Switzerland


McLaren Automotive, manufacturer of the MP4-12C high performance sports car, has announced that it will open in Geneva, Switzerland, from Autumn 2012 in partnership with British automotive luxury specialist, Autobritt Grand-Pré SA.  The location of the new retailer was confirmed today as 2 Rue du Grand-Pré in the heart of the prestigious city.


Work has already begun on the dedicated McLaren Geneva showroom where technology, passion, tradition and personal service will come together. Bernard Thuner, Chief Executive of the Autobritt S.A. group, commented: “I am thrilled to be able to add such a prestigious brand to the existing range of British cars.


From my father to my son Fabien, there are three generations of racing car drivers in our family. My father experienced the glory days of motoring and shared his passion for British cars with us - hence the name Autobritt. Today we are glad to be writing a new page in our family’s history and to experience the adventure that is the first stage in the story of a new brand like McLaren.”


Antony Sheriff, Managing Director of McLaren Automotive, said: “Autobritt is a company that shares McLaren Automotive’s passion for not just the 12C, but also the special customer experience which goes with it.  Its history in racing makes it a perfect fit for our brand, and I look forward to the start of sales in Geneva and adding McLaren to the city’s rich population of sports cars.”


McLaren Geneva will bring the number of Swiss retailers to two and follows the official opening of McLaren Zurich in September 2011.



About McLaren Automotive


Chaired by Ron Dennis, McLaren Automotive is an independent company based at the McLaren Technology Centre, the McLaren Group’s headquarters in Surrey (United Kingdom). McLaren Automotive has a rich heritage in the production of sports cars. Launched in 1992, the McLaren F1 established the speed record for a production car and remains one of the most emblematic “supercars”. The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was the biggest selling carbon fibre car in its price band, achieving almost twice the sales of its direct competitor.


McLaren Automotive is now a fully fledged car maker and, through its network of dedicated dealers, has launched a full range of high performance sports cars manufactured at the new McLaren Production Centre.


The first model in the range is the MP4-12C. Inspired by the experience gained in Formula 1 racing, the 12C is lighter, more powerful and exclusive than its competitors, while also being more environmentally efficient. Other models and derivatives will join the 12C in this range, all of them inheriting the technology and know-how developed in Formula 1, with the main objectives being energy efficiency and high performance.


These aims are partly achieved by the one-piece moulded carbon chassis, using a totally new and unique manufacturing process. All McLaren models are based on this innovative technology. Over the past 30 years, all cars produced by McLaren, whether for competition or road use, have been made on a carbon chassis.



Lena Siep, Wayne Bruce- photo McLaren