USA/Canada Delivery Thread

[EspritGuy]

Looks like whoever dropped the ball on the Emira was shown the door marked "exit".

Im sure this will be an 'exhaustive' search.
In the silver lining category: candidate shall be responsible for the appropriate distribution of information.
Better late than never.

 

[benjh1028]

I'm just going to quietly leave this here.

https://careers.geely.com/Lotus/job/Hethel-Principal-Engineer-Type-Approval-(Emissions)-Contingent/1007092301

I’ve got to say, the best first post by a new member I’ve seen yet. Thanks for the information and welcome to therapy!

 

[KCMO68_510]

I'm just going to quietly leave this here.

https://careers.geely.com/Lotus/job/Hethel-Principal-Engineer-Type-Approval-(Emissions)-Contingent/1007092301

So do we think this means the second attempt at approval failed and we are now waiting on both a) Lotus to hire a qualified candidate and b) Another cycle of being at the back of the line for approval?

 

[KCMO68_510]

Maybe somebody should apply and in interview just ask for the current state of things 🤔

 

[dgrace]

Who would take this job? It’s insane Geely is trying to hire externally rather than offering a bucket of cash to their Volvo guy to get it done. We already know it’s the last ICE Lotus.

Chance of abandoning US market just increased significantly.

 

[eriegz]

I'm just going to quietly leave this here.

https://careers.geely.com/Lotus/job/Hethel-Principal-Engineer-Type-Approval-(Emissions)-Contingent/1007092301

Let's see a job posting for a new Managing Director next!

 

[Eagle7]

Who would take this job? It’s insane Geely is trying to hire externally rather than offering a bucket of cash to their Volvo guy to get it done. We already know it’s the last ICE Lotus.

Chance of abandoning US market just increased significantly.

There is NO WAY they're going to abandon the U.S. market. The fact that this job posting is from Geely (not Hethel) gives us a clue as to who made this move. I read this as they are NOT happy with the situation, and have taken action to fix it. They could have reported a boatload (you can take that any way you like) of revenue this year from all the NA cars being shipped and sold to the dealers here, but that isn't going to happen now and it's pretty clear who they took out back behind the woodshed over it.

This actually bodes well for things next year.

 

[Eagle7]

Let's see a job posting for a new Managing Director next!

For some reason this idea bothers me, and I'm not exactly sure why. On the surface this is normally what would be done, but I just have this feeling there's something different going on here, and it wouldn't be beneficial to remove him. What I think would be good is to take the responsibility of communication and PR off his plate (which it looks like they may have done that), and let him focus on just the cars and manufacturing processes. The plant went from an original projected goal of what, 22 cars a day? or something like that, and they're now producing 40 cars a day. That's really good for Lotus Hethel, and even with that increased output we're seeing fewer and fewer complaints about issues with the cars.

On top of that, building out the new facility that's planned for production of the Type 135 is going to absorb a lot of time and attention. My personal view would be to let him focus on production, and have others handle the dealers, PR and communications. I suppose we'll see how Geely feels about it soon enough.

 

[LIQUIX]

How many people in the world have these qualifications? Has to be under 100 right? Crazy to hire this externally as others have said and not use internal Gelly resources.

 

[KCMO68_510]

How many people in the world have these qualifications? Has to be under 100 right? Crazy to hire this externally as others have said and not use internal Gelly resources.
View attachment 33631

I'd assume an internal resource is working on things, but that they still would like this to be it's own role in the future, hence hiring. Both can happen.

 

[Aero]

I got my Emira today to add to others. I'd been holding off getting the Emira to avoid jinxing things. (If things werent bad enough already)
I can't get it started though so it may be more Lotus than expected.

 

[LIQUIX]

Got mine too! Fun to stare it all day while the real one sits at _____.

 

[dgrace]

This actually bodes well for things next year.

You say that every year!

 

[Lotustoronto]

So, we can reasonably assume a few things on why they would be posting a job of this type in the midst of a failed US launch.

1. CARB/EPA failed compliance or something was not completed OR the person in charge of this has left Lotus for greener pastures

2. The fact that the job is temporary / not permanent should be very telling. The Emira is the last ICE vehicle from Lotus, this is a dead end position and it will probably be irrelevant come the electric future in a few years.

3. Lotus UK is incompetent in certain aspects of running an automotive brand.

4. The Managing Directors job is to ensure the ship is steady - he should be removed or placed in a different position such has head of manufacturing. (even then the Emira has had a fair share of QC problems...) Great that they produce 40 cars a day, but are they well built?

5. Other Engineers within the Geely corporation have not applied or are not interested in this position. Perhaps they are better informed of the internal situation and that moving from Sweden to Hethel is probably not a good idea.

I can't think of many reason to have this position, unless they will be re-doing certifications for some future Emira variants. Which perhaps may be possible, but unlikely. Especially with Emira not having EPA/CARB certification yet....

This failure is extremely costly to Lotus. What is the price to pay for the loss of sales, negative customer perception of the brand, dealers left with no inventory to sell for years!... In one of the largest sports car markets.

 

[kitkat]

take the responsibility of communication and PR off his plate (which it looks like they may have done that)

Yeah I don't think that's on _anyone's_ plate right now.

 

[kitkat]

2. The fact that the job is temporary / not permanent should be very telling. The Emira is the last ICE vehicle from Lotus, this is a dead end position and it will probably be irrelevant come the electric future in a few years.

The job posting is confusing:

"Lotus is currently looking to recruit a Principal Engineer – Type Approval (Emissions) to join our Engineering team on a permanent basis."

AND

Principal Engineer – Type Approval (Emissions)
Hethel or Wellesbourne
Temporary
Hybrid

 

[dgrace]

Just in case they take down the listing, this is what we were talking about:

 

[azlambo]

So….does this possibly mean U.S. Carb approval process must start all over??? (gulp) 🫣

 

[DerTheDer]

So….does this possibly mean U.S. Carb approval process must start all over??? (gulp) 🫣

Maybe, or they are just wanting someone that knows their shit. Old guy may have been terminated after submitting everything. amatuer move by Lotus to F up this. Costing them millions of dollars in sales.

 

[Zayex]

I got my Emira today to add to others. I'd been holding off getting the Emira to avoid jinxing things. (If things werent bad enough already)
I can't get it started though so it may be more Lotus than expected.
View attachment 33633

Shit! How? How much? And WHERE I CAN BUY ONE OF THESE?