Lotus confirms additional job losses at Hethel
'Fully committed to the UK' becoming increasingly meaningless as 550 more employees will go from factory
At what point, you might reasonably ask, does Hethel, Lotus’s historic home and allegedly the hub of its sports car operations, become an empty shell, sustained merely to vindicate the idea that the firm has a meaningful presence in the UK? Well, with news that the manufacturer is to shed an additional 550 jobs before the end of the year, we must fast be approaching that moment - if we haven’t already sailed beyond it.
The suggestion that Hethel currently accommodates 1,300 workers - the total previously claimed by Geely, but privately debunked by people familiar with the matter - means that the factory responsible for producing the Emira is certainly now going to be operating with many fewer than 1,000 employees. Which seems contrary to the idea of it being a fully-fledged centre for sports car production, motorsports activities and engineering consulting operations - all of which Geely says are still occurring behind its walls.
Confirmation of the job losses comes not just in the wake of rumours about Lotus closing the Hethel gates permanently - a rumour it strongly denied at the time - but also the more recent departure of Matt Windle, the beleaguered head of Lotus Cars Europe. The firm’s reluctance to officially confirm or introduce his replacement is likely telling, as is the “review of Lotus Cars' business objectives in line with the current market conditions" that presumably occurred at the same time.
On the subject of its conclusions, the official statement continued: “We believe this is necessary in order to secure a sustainable future for the company in today's rapidly evolving automotive environment, which is seeing uncertainty with rapid changes in global policies including tariffs.” Additional press coverage suggests that Lotus representatives met with local MPs on Thursday morning to discuss the implications of its ‘restructuring’ with the cuts expected to take effect in December.
In response, South Norfolk MP Ben Goldsborough is quoted as saying: "While any job losses are concerning, it is important to recognise the worst-case scenarios, fairly recently on the table, have been avoided: that being the complete closure of the factory.” But with precious little evidence that Lotus Cars Europe is moving towards a more sustainable position - or that the prevailing conditions it calls out will adjust to better suit its existing lineup - the idea that Hethel is not inevitably heading toward that fate seems absent of any kind of sure footing.
For the manufacturer’s part, it reckons “it is actively exploring future growth opportunities to diversify Lotus Cars' business model, including through third-party manufacturing." Frankly, and quite obviously, we would accept any solution that sees hard-working and skilled people remain in their jobs - and for Hethel to remain open as a going concern - but now more than ever it will require more than words for the clouds over Norfolk to part.
The choreography is depressingly familiar.
Promise what we / Govt want to hear. Big PR splash. Push back vigorously at questions. Deny.
Row back the promises when it can't be denied. Divert with PR guff about commitment.
Who's to say that Geeley won't end up with just a brass name plate on a serviced office in Hethel?
Just like corporates have a plate on a Luxembourg office for tax evasion.
sad.
The Emira is a fantastic car and probably the best Lotus they've made.
Maybe the Chinese only wanted the name, like with MG and don't actually care as they only want to produce EVs?
I wish they would sell the Elise tooling to Caterham.
Let's not forget Lotus is high profile on PH, but elsewhere all other manufacturers are struggling with even greater problems and far higher levels of redundancies and losses. Companies aren't social services, if they lose money they have to cut costs or sell more, and that's not easy for anyone. If you look at Porsche, Lotus's issues are a drop in the ocean.
I have always loved Lotus, but sadly it's looking like it's just going to be a badge for SUVs now.
Completely accept that they have never made anything that the mass market wanted, but they still made some wonderful cars.
I remember people saying when the takeover was announced that the fat crossovers would finance the interesting stuff. I was sceptical back then, and this is one of those cases where it does not feel good to be proven right.
Contrast to Ford Motor Co who just plod forwards in denial ramping up billions of dollars of debt, according to t'internet:
Net income/loss for the twelve months ending March 31, 2025 was $13.597 billion
Net income/loss for 2024 was $5.894 billion, a 36.15% increase from 2023
As an Emira owner I hope they don't make one. I've seen an Ai version and it looks stunning. If they make one there's no way I could afford one!
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