Lotus - Who owns them? Are they on the ropes? | FerrariChat
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Lotus - Who owns them? Are they on the ropes?

Discussion in 'British' started by Doody, Jul 8, 2004.

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  1. Doody

    Doody F1 Veteran

    Nov 16, 2001
    6,099
    MA USA
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    Mr. Doody
    #1 Doody, Jul 8, 2004
    i came across a random news item that suggested lotus is on the ropes and won't last long as an independent. no, i can't find it again - doh!

    i paid attention 'cuz i was reading this thread in the racing section:
    http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23631&highlight=chapman

    what is the current ownership status of Lotus? are they 100% independent still? the article i saw said the push back of the esprit replacement from 2004 to 2005 was because they couldn't afford the r&d.

    are they "on the ropes" as a company? some other article talked about hundreds of people being laid off on the past couple years.

    curious to grok the biz angle.

    doody.
     
  2. EspritSE

    EspritSE Formula Junior

    Dec 1, 2003
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    Colorado
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    Craig
    #2 EspritSE, Jul 8, 2004
  3. Bill Sawyer

    Bill Sawyer Formula 3

    Feb 26, 2002
    2,108
    Georgia
    #3 Bill Sawyer, Jul 8, 2004
    My brother was Communications Director for Lotus for years and still has strong ties with factory insiders. Let's just say that he's not enamored with the new CEO of LCU, nor has he ever been enamored with the people who run things in England. And he know what he's talking about.
     
  4. EspritSE

    EspritSE Formula Junior

    Dec 1, 2003
    509
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    Craig
    #4 EspritSE, Jul 8, 2004
    The buck does not stop with the boys in England though. They are answering to the boys in Malaysia.

    fwiw-
    Craig
     
  5. F SPIDER

    F SPIDER F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Jan 30, 2002
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    rijk rietveld
    #5 F SPIDER, Jul 8, 2004
    I don't know about their business state of affairs. All I know is that my Elise is a great car and that I think they got the car right. I'm worried about the US market. This is such a specialized enthousiast car that the hype around it in the US will fizzle out all too soon and the market will be flooded with second hand cars in one year or so.
     
  6. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 20, 2003
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    Dirty Harry
    #6 wax, Jul 8, 2004
  7. scycle2020

    scycle2020 F1 Rookie

    Jan 26, 2004
    3,477
    potomac
    #7 scycle2020, Jul 8, 2004
    you are righty , it is a real go cart type car...very fun but not practical for everyday use vs all the giant suvs here....for the same price, one can buy a corvette for everyday use or a used m3
     
  8. Bill Sawyer

    Bill Sawyer Formula 3

    Feb 26, 2002
    2,108
    Georgia
    #8 Bill Sawyer, Jul 8, 2004
    No one said it did, but there are ways that a small business unit can hide things from a large mother ship, aren't there?
     
  9. lotustt

    lotustt Formula 3

    Aug 28, 2002
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    #9 lotustt, Jul 8, 2004
    Doody, Lotus is wholly owned by the malaysian government car maker Proton. Lotus has not been independant since 1986 When GM acquired complete shareholdings of Lotus. Bugatti then bought Lotus Group from Gm in later 1993. Actual Esprit production just ended in late march. Lotus said it needs 3 years for the replacement so nothing has been officially moved back at all at this time due to any r&d issues. In fact if all goes well we should see the concept at Geneva possibly by 05'. Lotus Engineering and Lotus Cars are two separate companies under the Lotus group. Lotus Engineering is very profitable and does not share any profit with the Lotus Cars arm of the group. But if I do recall correctly I just heard Lotus Cars had just this past quarter turned a profit for its car division for the first time in awhile. Lotus also has to design a new elise for 06'
     
  10. Doody

    Doody F1 Veteran

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    #10 Doody, Jul 9, 2004
    VERY educational lotustt - many thanks.

    doody.
     
  11. Evolved

    Evolved F1 Veteran

    Nov 5, 2003
    8,700
    #11 Evolved, Jul 9, 2004
    Lotus always seems to be a heartbeat away from death.

    However that does seem to breed some very special and unique cars.

    I don't think any other car company could have built the elise.
     

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