The chief executive of Lotus, Qingfeng Feng, has called for UK government support for the company’s factory in Norfolk, as the Chinese-owned sports carmaker reaffirms its commitment to British manufacturing. Speaking through a translator at a Financial Times conference, Feng said the company is 'actively discussing with the government' not only financial subsidies but also infrastructure improvements around the Hethel plant.
Lotus announced it has extended the lifespan of its £80,000 petrol-engined Emira, built by 900 employees in Norfolk, to continue serving the US market. The decision follows concerns last year that Chinese parent company Geely was considering closing the UK factory, after 550 jobs were cut in August. Feng emphasised that the Norfolk facility is 'our best option' due to heavy past investment, despite having capacity to build 10,000 cars annually but currently producing only 2,000.
The company is undertaking a strategic 'reset', including plans to sell new Chinese-made hybrid SUVs in Europe and develop a hybrid-V8 petrol supercar, the Type 135. This marks a departure from its earlier pledge to produce only electric models, as EV sales have lagged. Lotus also aims to sell 30,000 vehicles per year by 2028, down from a previous target of 150,000, which Feng admitted was 'aggressive'.
The UK factory’s viability has been bolstered by lower US tariffs under a bilateral deal capping exports at 10%, a level Feng called sustainable. US tariffs on Chinese-made cars are prohibitive, making Norfolk crucial for the American market, which accounts for nearly two-thirds of Lotus sales. Feng stated: 'Lotus was born in Britain and we will keep it that way,' though feasibility studies continue for building models like the Type 135 in the UK.
Founded in 1948 by Colin Chapman, Lotus was acquired by Geely in 2017. Geely also owns stakes in Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Polestar, but has faced restructuring after overexpansion. Feng said UK political turmoil would not affect investment, but a closer trade relationship with Europe would benefit supply chains.
