Matt Windle promoted, says he wants to build more cars at Hethel

Hot off the presses!

Lotus has a new European boss – and he wants to build more cars at the firm's Norfolk factory | Autocar

Production at the brand's UK base could be broadened, says Matt Windle, potentially to include the Polestar 6

www.autocar.co.uk

 

[Teshoo Lama]

Very interesting.

I speculated in another thread that Geely may see the British leg of the Lotus strategy (global brand-building) as actually outperforming. The problems have come from poor execution on the China EV side (range/efficiency).

There's hope for Hethel yet!

 

[seriously]

Based on his comments, it seems he has a good handle on the realities of the current situation. Diversify manufacturing at hethel, slow down on electric sports car, expand dealer network (which is a real hindrance for some people's buy decision).

 

[Black Ice]

Based on his comments, it seems he has a good handle on the realities of the current situation. Diversify manufacturing at hethel, slow down on electric sports car, expand dealer network (which is a real hindrance for some people's buy decision).

I agree, especially in regard to the dealer network. My nearest is the best part of 2.5 hours away which isn’t great (certainly by UK standards!). I live in a “regional capital” as well so it’s not like I’m out in the sticks!

 

[UCLAFC]

“The deal recently agreed between the UK and US to lower those tariffs to 10% has helped Lotus, but Windle has yet to press go on restarting shipments to the US as he waits for the details.
"The headline numbers have gone out there, but actually the specifics behind it still haven't been clarified,” he said.
“There's product that's ready to ship, but what we don't want to do is jump the gun and end up getting clobbered.”

 

[Nick in Sydney]

I'm convinced the right strategy is:

1. Quietly kill off the Emeya and Eletre and stop using the contract factory in Wuhan
2. Build the TYP 134 (Macan competitor) in Hethel with a hybrid engine. This could be done alongside the Polestar 6 electric roadster to get volume savings. Manufacturing in Hethel makes it viable for both these vehicles to be sold in the USA and Europe from a tariff POV