Friday 16th May 2008

New Lotus Manufacturing Company

Carmaker acquires Holden Lightweight Structures

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Lotus has created a new manufacturing company which will be responsible for assembling the new chassis for Project Eagle.

The company has bought Holden Lightweight Structures, which employs 120 skilled engineers, technicians and sales staff, and created Lotus Lightweight Structures.

It will be based at the former Holden Lightweight Structures Limited site in Worcester and will continue to manufacture light weight aluminium and composite structures and components.

As well as the forthcoming Eagle the company will continue to assemble the award Elise, Exige and Europa aluminium chassis.

Lotus believes the acquisition will help it ‘create, adapt and change its range of products quickly and effectively, catering for changing global customer demands’.

Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive of Group Lotus plc, said: ‘I am delighted to announce the creation of Lotus Lightweight Structures following the strategic acquisition of Holden Lightweight Structures Limited.

‘With this facility, we will continue to expand and lead the world in lightweight vehicle research, development and production to help our global client base find ways to reduce the weight and cost from their vehicles.

‘Weight reduction is one of the most attainable ways to lowering CO2 emissions in vehicles today, as well as improving fuel economy and performance, and we have a duty to share our technology with the world’s car makers for everyone’s long term benefit.’

[MrTappets]

Well that sounds like good news to me - I'm all for the continuing lotus ethos of efficiency and light weight.

Edited by MrTappets on Friday 16th May 11:27

[Frimley111R]

What's going on?? This isn't Lotus at all, buying companies, forming partnerships...where's the finiancial woes we have all come to love!

Seriously though, this is all looking like excellent news for Lotus.

[Boggy]

This is fantastic, I'm over the moon

Boggy

[Sonicboon]

Excellent news, all looks good for the future

[wab172uk]

Sounds good news.

[thunderbelmont]

Perhaps they could buy whats left of Super Aguri and relaunch Team Lotus!!!!!!

[patmahe]

thunderbelmont said:

Perhaps they could buy whats left of Super Aguri and relaunch Team Lotus!!!!!!

That'd almost certainly bankrupt the business - so I'd expect to hear they've done it next week

Seriously though good to see Lotus able to invest properly in their products.

[Monki]

I was down there last week actually, amazing bits of machinary they've got 8) also do work on the Aston Martin race cars

[scooby wrx sti]

patmahe said:

thunderbelmont said:

Perhaps they could buy whats left of Super Aguri and relaunch Team Lotus!!!!!!

That'd almost certainly bankrupt the business - so I'd expect to hear they've done it next week

haven't they just started a partnership with spyker, Team Lotus Spyker F1 anyone

[HeavyRightFoot]

scooby wrx sti said:

patmahe said:

thunderbelmont said:

Perhaps they could buy whats left of Super Aguri and relaunch Team Lotus!!!!!!

That'd almost certainly bankrupt the business - so I'd expect to hear they've done it next week

haven't they just started a partnership with spyker, Team Lotus Spyker F1 anyone

A spyker/lotus styled F1 car???

Now that would be a thing of beauty!!!!

[HeavyRightFoot]

scooby wrx sti said:

patmahe said:

thunderbelmont said:

Perhaps they could buy whats left of Super Aguri and relaunch Team Lotus!!!!!!

That'd almost certainly bankrupt the business - so I'd expect to hear they've done it next week

haven't they just started a partnership with spyker, Team Lotus Spyker F1 anyone

A spyker/lotus styled F1 car???

Now that would be a thing of beauty!!!!

[sprinter885]

A lesson for Mr Boutwood of Noble Cars on how to give out useful information too. (See other thread about that interview !)

[flattotheboards]

Good news, this should hopefully mean they an build more cars and therefore mprove efficency.