Lotus' Esprit concept. Image: Lotus Cars
If politics makes for strange bedfellows, so does the automotive business. Volvo is owned by Chinese automaker Geely, while Jaguar / Land Rover is owned by the Indian company Tata. Upscale British brands Bentley and Rolls Royce are both owned by the Germans, with Bentley under VW’s brand and Rolls under BMW’s.
Lotus has been owned by Malaysian automaker Proton for some 16 years, but has never managed to turn a profit for its parent company. Now comes word from Autocar and Left Lane News that Proton has been sold by the Malaysian government, which puts the future of the British boutique sports car builder in question.
No one is saying that the new owner, contract automotive manufacturer DRB-Hicom, will shutter Lotus any time soon. Still, no one invests in a business to lose money, so at the very least its reasonable to expect changes at Lotus. Change doesn’t bode well for the launch of new, premium Lotus sports cars, and the brand’s existing models are mostly past their prime.
Also, don’t forget that you can get discounted new car pricing with a free quote through qualified local dealer partners.
Expect a statement from Lotus in the coming days, but it’s likely to be a very British, “Keep Calm, Carry On.” What will happen to the brand from Hethel beyond that is anyone’s guess.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
