Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer NIO has secured a battery supply agreement with British supercar maker McLaren, marking a strategic expansion into high-performance automotive applications beyond its traditional consumer market.
The partnership centers on NIO’s self-developed 4680 large cylindrical battery cells, which will power McLaren’s upcoming hybrid vehicle lineup. Production of these specialized battery packs is scheduled to begin next year, targeting limited initial volumes that align with McLaren’s exclusive manufacturing approach.
McLaren’s recent corporate transformation has facilitated this collaboration. The company completed a merger with startup Forseven in April, creating McLaren Group Holdings under the financial backing of CYVN Holdings, an Abu Dhabi government-supported investment firm, last year NIO partners with CYVN to launch R&D center in Abu Dhabi.
This restructuring aims to expand McLaren’s market presence beyond its traditional mid-engine supercar segment into broader luxury automotive categories. Merger strategically positions the combined entity to leverage advanced technologies while maintaining independent vehicle architecture development.
Forseven’s existing technology licensing agreement with NIO creates the foundation for this partnership. Collaboration will incorporate NIO’s autonomous driving capabilities and battery swapping technologies into McLaren’s future vehicle platforms, though the specific implementation details remain under development.
Sources indicate that NIO will restart development of its 46105 large cylindrical battery technology specifically for this partnership. Project includes a 120 kWh battery pack that was originally intended for NIO’s flagship sedan program, which encountered delays and didn’t reach market as planned.
The battery development program represents a collaborative effort between NIO and Forseven engineering teams. Joint approach allows both companies to optimize the technology for McLaren’s specific performance requirements while maintaining NIO’s core battery architecture.
The 46105 battery cells offer significant advantages for high-performance applications, providing the energy density and thermal management characteristics needed for supercar applications. Specifications exceed standard automotive battery requirements, making them suitable for McLaren’s demanding performance criteria.
CYVN Holdings’ guidance has enabled NIO to revive previously shelved battery projects, creating opportunities to commercialize advanced technologies that weren’t initially brought to market.
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