Official: Emira four-pot deliveries pushed back
The first UK and European buyers won't be getting their AMG-engined cars until next summer, Lotus confirms
Sometimes the line between news and lived experience blurs to invisibility. That’s been the case at PH for some time, where our reporting on the slipping delivery dates for the Lotus Emira has been echoed in the forums by many would-be owners reporting on their personal orders. That was the case for the V6-powered model, which slipped so far that Lotus boss Matt Windle posted an apology video explaining the delays last June. But it is also the case for the newest cars that feature the AMG four-cylinder engine we drove in August, with the first customer deliveries now delayed till halfway through next year.
Having seen the story developing in the forums, we’ve done some digging to try and clarify things. And the official position is that it is, sadly, correct. Lotus says that everybody in the UK with an order for the 2.0-litre car in place should already have been contacted directly and told of the delay. So if you haven’t been, feel aggrieved.
A Lotus spokesman told PH that buyers had been kept up to date with phone calls to every customer awaiting for car delivery. And: “we expect the four-cylinder variant of the Emira to be delivered in time for summer next year.”
Officially there is no more exact timing than that – leaving a fairly substantial window for the deliveries to actually begin. PHer LordOfTheManor reports being told this means June which, against the understandable irritation of another delay, is about as good as ‘summer’ could be. But Lotus still needs to meet this revised target – not something it has a stellar track record with.
Lotus says the summer timing applies to both British and European cars, so this is not an issue exclusively to do with UK-specific type approval. We’re also told that US deliveries will be behind that, so North American buyers will be waiting even longer.
But not everybody is facing a delay – customers in China have already reported receiving their Hethel-built four-cylinder Emiras, and visitors to the factory tell PH that the AMG variant is in full production. The official reason remains familiar, very similar in fact to the one that Windle gave last year to explain the overdue V6.
“Lotus was affected by the global supply chain constraints, which impacted manufacturing in the UK. This was a result of various factors which had knock-on effects on our vehicle program and delivery timeline. We have been making significant progress and there are still some final checks and certification that need to be completed before customer deliveries can start.”
With some disappointed buyers known to have already cancelled orders, Lotus needs to make sure the schedule doesn’t slip any further – especially as the sports car market starts to suffer from the effects of steep interest rates and slowing demand. We will be keeping a very close eye on this one.
Funnily enough they're currently recruiting people to do just that... https://careers.geely.com/Lotus/job/Hethel-Directo...
Do Lotus deserve to succeed? It sounds like they couldn’t arrange a piss up in a brewery.
k up this launch when the car promised so much. Only Lotus could do that, so frustrating!!I still think it's a lovely car but the 'want' has just gone now and I suspect I am not alone.
As much as I want see see Lotus stay as Lotus, I cant see Geely putting up with this sort incompetence for long before they step in and take over management themselves.
Do Lotus deserve to succeed? It sounds like they couldn’t arrange a piss up in a brewery.
Despite putting deposit down of 2K, they increased the price in 2022 to 82k.
Was told car was coming early 2023 no communication from Lotus. In Summer 2023 they requested another 3k to secure my build slot as price was going up again and car would be delivered in November 2023. November 2023 get phone call from Lotus Customer Service to say it will be “Summer 2024” and by the way would I like an invite to tour the factory and meet Jenson Button as compensation.
Can only wait so long so cancelled the order this week, and have purchased a 2nd hand low mileage 2019 Aston Martin Vantage for same money. If they weren’t owned by Geely they would be bankrupt by now. Shame I really wanted Lotus to succeed.
Despite putting deposit down of 2K, they increased the price in 2022 to 82k.
Was told car was coming early 2023 no communication from Lotus. In Summer 2023 they requested another 3k to secure my build slot as price was going up again and car would be delivered in November 2023. November 2023 get phone call from Lotus Customer Service to say it will be “Summer 2024” and by the way would I like an invite to tour the factory and meet Jenson Button as compensation.
Can only wait so long so cancelled the order this week, and have purchased a 2nd hand low mileage 2019 Aston Martin Vantage for same money. If they weren’t owned by Geely they would be bankrupt by now. Shame I really wanted Lotus to succeed.
Such a shame about your Emira, they really have made a complete hash of things haven’t they?
Despite putting deposit down of 2K, they increased the price in 2022 to 82k.
Was told car was coming early 2023 no communication from Lotus. In Summer 2023 they requested another 3k to secure my build slot as price was going up again and car would be delivered in November 2023. November 2023 get phone call from Lotus Customer Service to say it will be “Summer 2024” and by the way would I like an invite to tour the factory and meet Jenson Button as compensation.
Can only wait so long so cancelled the order this week, and have purchased a 2nd hand low mileage 2019 Aston Martin Vantage for same money. If they weren’t owned by Geely they would be bankrupt by now. Shame I really wanted Lotus to succeed.
Management seem totally incompetent.
Just buy a Porsche.
I had one of the first Emira's on order, a V6 First Edition, but the lack of communication and delays were a joke. Glad I cancelled as the problems owners are now having with their new cars are numerous - you only have to go on the forums to see the issues with the Emira. I also hear that (allegedly) Lotus are running out of money and paying suppliers late.
I had a number of Lotus cars over the years and wanted them to succeed but delays like this just creates bad feeling with customers.
As a prior Lotus owner you know they always have problems but the Emira brought a whole load of new owners to them. Lotus have likely lost a load of them for good unfortunately.
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