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McLaren 'banking on strong Saudi demand'

Manama, April 21, 2013

Strong demand in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia for McLaren Automotive's high-performance sports cars is a key driver for the new McLaren Manama showroom at the Bahrain World Trade Centre, said a top official.

McLaren Automotive is a British manufacturer of luxury, high-performance sports cars, located at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey.

In the Middle East, the company's regional head office is located in Bahrain, home to the company's principal shareholder, Mumtalakat, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

Speaking at the showroom launch, Mumtalakat chief executive Mahmood Al Kooheji, who along with Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, represented the investment arm of the kingdom, said McLaren Automotive was one of the sovereign wealth fund's flagship investments.

"We are delighted that the company, with its retail partner for Bahrain, Al Ghassan Motors, has decided to open a unique and exciting showroom that is a testament to McLaren's engineering prowess.

"McLaren Manama is unique in Bahrain with its location at the Bahrain World Trade Centre next to Moda Mall, and the only vehicle retailer located in such a central and high-profile location in the city," he added.

The VIP event was hosted by McLaren Automotive chief operating officer, Mike Flewitt, and Al Ghassan Motors' president and chief executive Shaikh Ghassan Al Sulaiman.

A highlight of the opening event was an appearance by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers Jenson Button and Sergio Perez, who arrived in an Orange McLaren 12C Spider to officially open McLaren Manama.

"McLaren Manama is a world class showroom made possible with the support of our partners Mumtalakat and Al Ghassan Motors,"said Flewitt.

"It will redefine the sale of luxury high performance cars in Bahrain and across the region."

Describing the new showroom as "a jewel in the crown of Al Ghassan Motors' luxury automotive retail locations", Shaikh Ghassan said he believed "it will change the face of sports car retailing in Bahrain".

"Our goal is to represent McLaren as they strive to be the iconic sports car company: the showroom is just the start for McLaren in Bahrain."

Following the recent Middle East debut of the McLaren P1 supercar in Bahrain, a second McLaren 'supercar' was also presented in Bahrain at the launch event.

Having debuted in the Kingdom at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix, the McLaren MP4-25 Formula One car driven by Jenson Button has now returned to Bahrain and will be on display at McLaren Manama.-TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Bahrain | Saudi | McLaren | Showroom |

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