The present company was formed from the merger of two McLaren Technology Group companies, McLaren Composites and TAG Electronics, following the sale of Audiolab to International Audio Group. TAG Electronics Holdings was the parent company of TAGMcLaren Audio (now Audiolab) and also TAG Electronics Systems. The remaining technology company merged with McLaren Composites to form McLaren Applied Technologies.
Initially known as McLaren Composites, the company’s primary work involved manufacturing parts for the McLaren F1 and Mercedes SLR. It also secured contracts to manufacture parts for other companies and expanded into the energy industry, particularly solar panels. McLaren Composites was dissolved in 2003 and replaced by McLaren Applied Technologies in 2004. The company name changed again on January 2, 2020, to McLaren Applied.
In September 2014, Ian Rhodes replaced Ron Dennis as CEO. In 2021, McLaren Group sold McLaren Applied to Greybull Capital after financial distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Greybull's ownership, the company has received new investment in its facilities, products, and staff. In August 2025, the company announced its rebranding as Motion Applied.
In motorsport, Motion Applied is recognized for manufacturing the Standard Electronic Control Unit (SECU) for all Formula One teams, a contract it has held since 2008 and recently extended to cover 2026-2030. The company also supplies software, sensors, and other components to multiple Formula One teams.
Beyond Formula One, Motion Applied provides engine control units for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and IndyCar Series. These ECUs share a common base. Motion Applied has supplied the IndyCar Series since 2007 and then 2010 as a standard ECU supplier, taking over from Motorola. It has supplied the NASCAR Cup Series since 2012, when the series transitioned from carburation to fuel injection. Motion Applied also produced the electric motor, transmission, and electronics for the Spark-Renault SRT 01E, the car used in the inaugural Formula E season.
Motion Applied is a long-standing supplier of automotive-grade components, specializing in vehicle electrification, particularly inverters. Its fifth-generation product, known as IPG5, utilizes an 800v Silicon Carbide architecture, offering improved efficiency, performance, and control fidelity. This product has gained global recognition and secured orders from several car manufacturers.
Motion Applied provides stable connectivity for challenging environments, including public transport and mining, through its 5G edge computing antenna and F1-derived software. The company recently launched the Halo300 antenna range.
In August 2023, Lavoie, Motion Applied's electric scooter unit, acquired the Dutch e-bike manufacturer VanMoof.
In 2010, the company developed systems that supported Team GB's medal bids in rowing, sailing, and cycling for the 2012 London Olympics. Motion Applied also collaborated with Specialized Bicycle Components to produce the Specialized S-Works+McLaren Venge racing bike, ridden by Mark Cavendish.
Motion Applied worked with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) on developing drugs, vaccines, and medication. The company helped GSK's toothpaste production line at Maidenhead reduce the time required to change over toothpaste brands or flavors from 39 minutes to 15 minutes, increasing the factory's productivity by 6.7 million tubes of toothpaste annually.
Motion Applied handled electronics and data for the Ekofisk drilling plant in the North Sea. The McLaren Applied ENERGY website stated: "McLaren Applied has taken its knowledge of analysing large data sets and applied it to drilling. Using real time data direct from the drilling head, the computer models developed by McLaren Applied constantly updates and provides insight that helps guide operational decision making on a day-to-day basis." Motion Applied also worked with wind turbine companies and data center companies, including IO, on the design of their data centers and cooling systems.
The company has received multiple Queen's Awards for Enterprise for innovation and international trade. In 2022, Motion Applied won the Motorsport Industry Association's Business Excellence award for Technology & Innovation. The company has also won multiple e-mobility awards recognizing its contributions to vehicle electrification.