Ex-Mclaren CEO Mike Flewitt named new BAC chairman

Mike Flewitt spent over a decade at McLaren before joining BAC

Brit outlines plan to take Liverpool firm into the future, with scope for electrification and a two-seater

Mike Flewitt, former CEO of McLaren Automotive, has been named as chairman of the Liverpool-based Briggs Automobile Company, better known as BAC, promising to bring his experience of four decades at the top of the car industry to build what its founders say is their company’s “ambitious growth strategy and new model programme”. 

Flewitt says he has known the Briggs brothers for several years, and has been deeply impressed with both the quality of their single-seat BAC Mono R car and the efficiency of their tiny but profitable 40-person business.

Here, he answers questions on his new role, which begins immediately.

*You must have had other opportunities after McLaren. Why choose BAC?*

"I’m a big fan of the Briggs brothers and I love what they do. Anyone who knows me knows I have a garage full of lightweight cars; BAC’s guiding principles are the same as my own. I tried the Mono R last year and was amazed by its capability, and the sheer focus on the fun of driving.

"I’m especially excited because BAC is based a couple of miles from where I grew up in Liverpool, not far from Ford Halewood where I joined the industry in the 1980s."

*How can you help?*

"Neil Briggs is a designer and Ian’s an engineer. I’m neither, but I do have a good deal of industry know-how — experience of how markets work, of distribution, of financial and manufacturing practice. I believe this can be useful, especially in the new expansion phase they’re contemplating."

*What are the details of the expansion? *

"BAC will build steadily. The company makes around 40 cars a year now — at prices up to £250,000 — and it’s profitable, which not many small companies can say. We’ll build steadily as we take the cars into new markets. It’s possible to see us doing 50 cars next year.

"That may not sound like many, but it’s a 20% increase. In two or three years, we could get to 100 cars. We’re having discussions with distributors right now about US sales.

"The existing factory might strain a bit at 100 cars, but it could handle it."

*Talking new models, is there serious talk of a BAC two-seater?*

"It’s a conversation we’ve had, but it’s not on the agenda. We’re aware that a road-going but track focused single-seater as expensive as the Mono R is a pretty specialist product.

"It’s main emphasis is on providing incredible driving characteristics. But wouldn’t rule out a two-seater, provided it could match the driving quality of existing cars."

*You come from an ultra-high tech company making carbon chassis and bespoke hybridised engines. The Mono R has neither. Will you press for higher tech in BAC’s next designs?*

"The powertrain and the chassis are areas we’re discussing, but BAC’s quality and driving standards are already among the highest anywhere. We’d have to be sure changes would improve the performance or customer appeal of our cars. We’ll always look very carefully at where we put our investment."

*Is part of your mission to prepare for electrification?*

"For sure. We have alternative powertrain options right now, but we’re not in a rush to implement them because at present they wouldn’t work as well as what we have now. And our customers aren’t calling for them. But helping BAC prepare for the future is very much part of my role."

*Does it feel great to be back, working with high performance cars?*

"Of course. I really don’t feel as if I’ve been away — after McLaren it was simply necessary to soft-pedal for a while. But I wanted my next role to be something I could be certain I’d enjoy. And I love this industry, and especially the BAC ethos of lightweight construction."