Who Owns Lotus? Everything You Need to Know

Lotus Cars, a British manufacturer of sports cars, has a long and interesting history of ownership changes.

The company was founded and owned for many years by Colin Chapman, who was known for his innovative designs and engineering.

However, after his death, the company went through a period of financial instability and was eventually bought by General Motors.

Since then, Lotus has changed hands several times. It was later owned by Romano Artioli and DRB-HICOM through its subsidiary Proton.

Currently, Lotus is majority owned by Chinese multinational Geely, with Etika Automotive as a minority shareholder.

This ownership change has brought about significant changes in the company’s direction, with Geely investing heavily in the development of new models and technologies.

Where Are Lotus Cars Made

Lotus Cars has a rich history of producing high-performance cars that are lightweight and agile.

The production of their cars has taken place in several locations throughout the company’s history.

In the early years, Lotus cars were manufactured in a small factory in North London. As the company grew, it moved to a larger facility in Hethel, Norfolk, where it has been based ever since.

Today, Lotus Cars produces its cars at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hethel, Norfolk.

The facility covers an area of over 100 acres and includes a design studio, research and development center, and production line.

The facility is equipped with the latest technology and machinery, allowing Lotus Cars to produce high-quality cars with precision and accuracy.

The manufacturing process at Lotus Cars is highly automated, with robots and machines used to carry out many of the tasks.

However, there is still a significant amount of manual labor involved in the production of cars, particularly in the assembly and finishing stages.

In addition to its manufacturing facility in Hethel, Lotus Cars also has a design studio in Coventry, where its team of designers works on developing new concepts and designs for future cars.

The company also has a presence in China, where it has a joint venture with Geely to develop and produce electric vehicles.

Overall, Lotus Cars is a British company that is proud of its heritage and its commitment to producing high-performance sports cars.

Its manufacturing facility in Hethel is a testament to the company’s dedication to quality and precision, and it is where some of the world’s most iconic cars have been produced.

Who Makes Lotus Engines

Lotus Cars is known for producing lightweight sports cars with excellent handling and performance.

However, the company does not manufacture its own engines. Instead, Lotus sources engines from various suppliers to power its vehicles.

One of the most notable engine suppliers for Lotus is Toyota. Many Lotus models, including the Elise and Exige, have been powered by Toyota engines.

For example, the Lotus Elise S3 is powered by a 1.8-liter Toyota 2ZZ-GE engine, which produces 217 horsepower and 156 lb-ft of torque.

The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission and helps the Elise S3 accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds.

Lotus has also used engines from other manufacturers, such as General Motors. The Lotus Evora, for instance, was initially powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine sourced from GM.

The engine produced 276 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque and was mated to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

In recent years, Lotus’ parent company Geely has announced plans to develop its own engines.

Geely has merged its internal combustion engine development with Volvo, which is also owned by Geely, to free up the Swedish brand to develop electric powertrains.

It remains to be seen if Lotus will use engines developed by Geely in future models.

In summary, Lotus Cars sources engines from various manufacturers, including Toyota and General Motors, to power its vehicles.

While Lotus has not manufactured its own engines, its parent company Geely has announced plans to develop its own engines in collaboration with Volvo.

READ ALSO: Who Owns Kia? Everything You Need to Know

Short History of Lotus

The company was founded in 1952 as Lotus Engineering Ltd. by engineers Colin Chapman and Colin Dare, both graduates of University College, London.

However, the company had earlier origins in 1948 when Chapman built his first racing car in a garage.

Lotus has a rich history in motorsports, having won numerous championships in Formula One, sports car racing, and rallies.

The company’s success on the track has been attributed to its innovative designs and lightweight construction, which allowed for better handling and performance.

In 1986, General Motors and Toyota purchased a combined majority share in Group Lotus as co-owners.

However, Toyota sold out to General Motors four months later. In 1993, General Motors sold Lotus to A.C.B.N Holdings S.A. of Luxembourg.

Then, in 1996, Proton, a Malaysian car company, bought a majority stake in Lotus.

In 2017, Chinese automotive giant Geely acquired a majority stake in Lotus from Proton.

Geely’s acquisition of Lotus is part of its strategy to expand its global footprint and strengthen its position in the luxury car market.

Under Geely’s ownership, Lotus has continued to produce high-performance sports cars, including the Evora, Elise, and Exige models.

Today, Lotus is known for its commitment to lightweight construction, innovative design, and high-performance sports cars.

The company’s founder, Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman, is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in motorsports history, and his legacy continues to inspire engineers and designers at Lotus and beyond.

What Car Companies Does Geely Own

Geely is a Chinese multinational automotive company that has been expanding its portfolio of car companies over the years.

Here are some of the key brands that Geely owns or has a share in:

• Volvo (Volvo Cars): Geely acquired Volvo Cars in 2010. Volvo Cars is known for its safety features and has produced luxury cars since 1927. Since Geely’s acquisition, Volvo Cars has seen a significant increase in sales and has expanded its product line to include electric and hybrid vehicles.
• London EV Company (LEVC): Geely acquired LEVC in 2013. LEVC is known for producing black cabs, which are a common sight on the streets of London. Since Geely’s acquisition, LEVC has expanded its product line to include electric taxis.
• Lotus Cars: In 2017, Geely acquired a 51% stake in Lotus Cars. Lotus Cars is a British sports car company that has been producing lightweight and high-performance cars since 1952. Since Geely’s acquisition, Lotus Cars has been working on expanding its product line to include electric and hybrid vehicles.
• Proton: Geely acquired a 49.9% stake in Proton in 2017. Proton is a Malaysian car company that has been producing cars since 1985. Since Geely’s acquisition, Proton has been working on expanding its product line to include electric and hybrid vehicles.
• Lynk & Co: Lynk & Co is a car brand that was launched by Geely in 2016. Lynk & Co is known for producing affordable and connected cars. Since its launch, Lynk & Co has been expanding its product line to include electric and hybrid vehicles.

Geely’s acquisition of these car companies has allowed it to expand its product line and enter new markets.

Geely’s focus on electric and hybrid vehicles also aligns with the growing demand for environmentally friendly cars.