Matt Windle leaves Lotus

I know this was covered as an update to the thread titled “Matt Windle Promoted,” but easy to miss there, and seems significant enough to deserve its own thread.

Exclusive: Lotus to name new Europe head following shock departure of boss after just few months in post | Autocar

Company's Chinese HQ takes a tighter rein as Europe boss Matt Windle steps down after four months

www.autocar.co.uk

 

[kitkat]

Good, maybe we can get some more competent management in place.

 

[Orchardbike]

I second that!

 

[F1 SML8R]

Sorry guys, but I don't think someone from Geely only concerned with stopping the bleeding or worse, looking at what is "sellable" (and I'm not talking cars) is going to be much better. In fact, it has the potential to only get worse.

As much as many here think MW was incompetent, try doing your job with one hand tied behind your back. The passion we all share started in the UK. What makes anyone think that passion will some how now come from elsewhere? The best we can hope for is that Lotus once again finds a way to "survive". Also, the company's best bet is in retaining and promoting core UK employees or bringing old people back (many left to Aston, Ferrari, Mclaren).

 

[KAR120C]

I have mixed feelings.

I'm an engineer. I like engineers. However, an engineer may not be right when it comes to marketing and selling vehicles.

Lotus can engineer a good car. They can't sell worth a darn. Customer service, marketing and general public facing image has to be improved for the brand to thrive. Mao Jingbo seems to have a good track record at MB, Lincoln, and Lotus China.

I definitely want to give her the chance to get things going in the right direction, because Lotus' current direction seems to be poorly navigated.

Also, in my opinion, Matt was on watch when the Hethel closing/US plant news was leaked. What a disaster, and someone's head was going to roll. Now we know who's head it was.

 

[centerpunch]

They should have hired Steve Saleen to set up the Emira factory. Maybe they still should.

When Ford decided to make the 2005-2006 Ford GT, they hired him to set up a small factory to build the cars for two years. He did a great job, they built 2000 cars a year, and those cars were very high quality (I've owned two). Obviously not a highly-automated plant, but set up perfectly for that volume.

The Emira is certainly a more complex car, with more extensive interior and today's crazy-ass electronics, but even at 10,000 per year is still a very-low volume car. I think Saleen would have been the perfect guy.

Thanks to old friend Don Sherman, I was able to tour while my first GT was being made- I'm the nerd in the tan pants, and that's Saleen and Don Sherman on the far right.
.

 

[Beardedbradley]

She’s also better looking than Matt……

 

[675430VME]

I have mixed feelings.

I'm an engineer. I like engineers. However, an engineer may not be right when it comes to marketing and selling vehicles.

Lotus can engineer a good car. They can't sell worth a darn. Customer service, marketing and general public facing image has to be improved for the brand to thrive. Mao Jingbo seems to have a good track record at MB, Lincoln, and Lotus China.

I definitely want to give her the chance to get things going in the right direction, because Lotus' current direction seems to be poorly navigated.

Also, in my opinion, Matt was on watch when the Hethel closing/US plant news was leaked. What a disaster, and someone's head was going to roll. Now we know who's head it was.

Mao Jingbo was moved to her new position because of how bad she was doing with the direction of marketing in China. Sales has been gradually going back up after she left.

 

[seriously]

Mao Jingbo was moved to her new position because of how bad she was doing with the direction of marketing in China. Sales has been gradually going back up after she left.

Really? I figured China was down as a function of the market and not lotus especially.

 

[KAR120C]

Mao Jingbo was moved to her new position because of how bad she was doing with the direction of marketing in China. Sales has been gradually going back up after she left.

Then she'll fit right in at Hethel.

 

[Six Speed Stephen]

They should have hired Steve Saleen to set up the Emira factory. Maybe they still should.

When Ford decided to make the 2005-2006 Ford GT, they hired him to set up a small factory to build the cars for two years. He did a great job, they built 2000 cars a year, and those cars were very high quality (I've owned two). Obviously not a highly-automated plant, but set up perfectly for that volume.

The Emira is certainly a more complex car, with more extensive interior and today's crazy-ass electronics, but even at 10,000 per year is still a very-low volume car. I think Saleen would have been the perfect guy.

Thanks to old friend Don Sherman, I was able to tour while my first GT was being made- I'm the nerd in the tan pants, and that's Saleen and Don Sherman on the far right.
.

The Saleen 1 failed to get off the ground. He would be an even worse choice. Lotus' core issue is selling cars, not building them.

 

[centerpunch]

Sorry making 4038 Ford GTs isn’t a good enough resume for you lol.

 

[675430VME]

Really? I figured China was down as a function of the market and not lotus especially.

The whole marketing strategy was changed to somewhat more fitting for Lotus such as focusing mostly on racing after she left. I dun have the numbers but judging at how my dealer is doing, definitely selling more cars than before.

 

[anshumanoz]

Just because the CEO is from UK or is passionate about building cars in Hethel doesn’t guarantee success, and neither does if someone is from China.

Clearly, things weren’t all right at Lotus and most of the forums are filled with what they are - ranging from the quality of the car to sales, service etc.

I for one, hope they continue to make more Emiras. I really love that car. But, getting back to real profitability will be the surest way to sustain that. For me, it’s too early to say whether this move is the right one or not. Let’s see what the next moves are.

 

[Six Speed Stephen]

Sorry making 4038 Ford GTs isn’t a good enough resume for you lol.

Correct, being a contractor for final assembly for Ford is not a good enough of a resume to run or turn around a brand. And his own attempt at it failed.

 

[Milk242]

If lotus’s goal is to grow big then I hate to say it, they need to be making a Macan or Audi Q3/Q5 competitor. Their current EV suv does not look good, it’s like their aim was for a radical design like Lamborghini without the brand recognition.

If they want to stay boutique, then they need to cut the fat and focus on quality and marketing. They don’t even make their own drive train so they are already saving a lot on r&d.

It doesn’t seem like Lotus knows what they want to become. I’m sure the tariffs on Chinese made EVs have hurt them some, but I highly doubt it as their SUV looks ugly imo.