Lotus in DEEP Trouble?
Discussion
Agem said:
Does not surprise me at all. The brand is fragmented.
I am amazed anyone wants it.
Serious disputes about the name.
Who needs this?
I've owned three Lotus cars and had been sniffing around an Evora.
Not now. I don't have any confidence in the brand and the service back-up anymore. Dealers are closing, but new ones aren't opening. Yet, they are title sponsors of teams in F1, GP2, Le Mans GTE, Le Mans LMP2, Indycar......
....Now most of this 'sponsorship' is Genii investing in the brand, and one could argue that a win by Kimi in F1 and a big presence at Le Mans could make the brand more saleable to a Tata, a Shanghai Auto or a Qatari investment bank. But it is risky.
Not now. I don't have any confidence in the brand and the service back-up anymore. Dealers are closing, but new ones aren't opening. Yet, they are title sponsors of teams in F1, GP2, Le Mans GTE, Le Mans LMP2, Indycar......
....Now most of this 'sponsorship' is Genii investing in the brand, and one could argue that a win by Kimi in F1 and a big presence at Le Mans could make the brand more saleable to a Tata, a Shanghai Auto or a Qatari investment bank. But it is risky.
Sad to see what must be a hugely difficult time for them but also quite shocked to see how few cars they are selling. Wins in F1 etc 'might' reignite interest but i doubt it will to the extent that profits will soar by any meaningful amount, Can't knock them for trying and I bet other wealthier manufacturers would love to have some of the ideas Lotus have up their sleeves.
I was at the factory a few months ago, and the personnel at the top are all from what would typically be described as quality European brands.
I would have thought that this would have really set Lotus onto a good footing in terms of production and quality. The design shop seemed to have really pulled out the stops too.
I hope they do not go to the wall after all this effort to get things right.
I would have thought that this would have really set Lotus onto a good footing in terms of production and quality. The design shop seemed to have really pulled out the stops too.
I hope they do not go to the wall after all this effort to get things right.
a car maker manufacturing lighter weight cars, and focus struggling to survive. The problem is lotus are 10 years behind, if they had come up with a new product such as a mass market lightweight city car, or trike they could have used this as a cash cow.
What cash cow does lotus have? they would be classed as a specialist niche car manufacturer. They would make a good mix with Toyota.
What cash cow does lotus have? they would be classed as a specialist niche car manufacturer. They would make a good mix with Toyota.
Its a shame, 3 month suspend on any spending on dev and then who knows what will be decided
http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/troubles...
http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/troubles...
I didn't say VAG would buy Lotus, Hicom who now own Proton (and therfore Lotus) had an existing tech deal with VW before they bought Proton, so why do they want Lotus? I don't think they do, they will sell lotus, they have been quote din the Mlaysian press as saying they would sell at the right price.
When proton sold MV August it was sold for 20Pence,
When proton sold MV August it was sold for 20Pence,
The problem that Lotus is that Hicom has bought the remaining 7% share on the free market to bring it to 51% ownership. I would also be concerned if I worked at Lotus as unlike Proton who were looking for the Lotus Badge and Dany Bahar selling the razzle dazzle of F1 and Lemans and new cars. Hicom might just be looking at the sum of the parts. Sell it to Nissan/Renault for the Infiniti launch in Europe. Sell the other bits to Mclaren or at a Hertfordshire car boot sale.
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