Lotus moving production to china..(makes sense?) will it still be a lotus?

[JB Senior Contributing Member & Patron Find all posts View Profile Close JB]

https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...tion-to-china/

with lotus now talking about moving prodiction to china and also making cuv s...

is it still a lotus?

will it be the successful expansion of the iconic sports car brand or the death knell?

ill take a guess and say successful expansion...

lots of chinese will clamor for a James Bond Lotus even if built in china...

i think the chinese affluent have a hankering for wanna be James Bond toys...(kidding @s if course i have no idea)

[Fireeagle Forum Founding & Sr. Contributing Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fireeagle]

I don't think it will be a death knell for Lotus, but a way to expand into that market with SUV's. From the article, the British plant will remain operational. Like anything made in China, the quality always suffers. I can relate it to a specialty item like guitars. You can buy a good looking and cheaper Strat style guitar built in China or buy one of a similar style (or a real Fender Strat made in the USA at a much higher price. Quality is like night and day though. The Chinese guitar quality is vastly inferior to the USA made guitar. Lotus is and has been a quality brand so there is a possibility that quality image will tarnish on those made in China.

[John forum co-founder & admin Find all posts View Profile Close John]

Thoughtful questions JB? I can not begin to answer them, but maybe this perspective is helpful?

Is it still a Volvo now that they have moved out of Sweden?

[whl3 ZORA Patron, Founder, & Sr. Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close whl3]

I've been a Lotus aficionado since the Elan was first launched in the early 1960's. I was impressed by its dohc motor, four wheel disc brakes, fully independent suspension, all fiberglass body, being lightweight, and its overall power to weight ratio. One of the Lotus cars I sold to buy my C7 was a 1967 S3 DHC Elan. What a fun but unreliable car! The 1988 Esprit I sold was an "end swapping" nightmare! The 2007 Exige S was a great track toy, very reliable, but totally impractical (just ask my wife!)! All three weren't built for my "more mature" aging 6'3" frame! If I had a local dealer here in Cincinnati, I might have an Evora instead of my C7. I'm not looking back and only forward to the purchase of a C8. The only way for Lotus to survive in the current automotive environment is with a giant infusion of cash which Geely has. If they do for Lotus as they have done for Volvo, the future for Lotus may never have looked brighter! I wish them well whether it be producing two seat cars or crossovers all in the continuing legacy of Colin Chapman's "just adding lightness!"

[Boomer ZORA Patron, Founder & Sr. Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Boomer]

Lotus will probably do fine there. Wouldn't expect lower quality but If so, the market can react.

[meyerweb Forum Founder, Sr. Content Contributor & Patron Find all posts View Profile Close meyerweb]

Lotus has been owned by a Chinese company, Geely, since 2017. Geely also owns Volvo. People don't think of Volvo as a Chinese car, and I doubt they'll think of Lotus as one, either.

[meyerweb Forum Founder, Sr. Content Contributor & Patron Find all posts View Profile Close meyerweb]

I don't think it will be a death knell for Lotus, but a way to expand into that market with SUV's. From the article, the British plant will remain operational. Like anything made in China, the quality always suffers. I can relate it to a specialty item like guitars. You can buy a good looking and cheaper Strat style guitar built in China or buy one of a similar style (or a real Fender Strat made in the USA at a much higher price. Quality is like night and day though. The Chinese guitar quality is vastly inferior to the USA made guitar. Lotus is and has been a quality brand so there is a possibility that quality image will tarnish on those made in China.

The Chinese CAN make high quality products. In fact, many high quality "American" and European products are manufactured in China, including iPhones, Columbia sportswear, and much more. But there is money to be made in cheap knockoffs, too, and if there's anything the Chinese value it's making money.

And England doesn't exactly have a history of making high quality, reliable cars, either......