Does Lotus make cars for other manufacturers?

[jakesmith]

I Had a very interesting chat with a guy today who said he had spent a few weeks working in consultancy for Lotus a few years back. He said his impression was of a typical British manufacturing company that had had to create efficiencies make cost savings to bring their product to market at a competitive price & that the build quality was poor as a result, he cited a flimsy bonnet lid as an example. I pointed out they were best in class entry level track/sports cars & he wholeheartedly agreed having been taken out in a few during this time. He then said that Lotus were actually manufacturing an entire vehicle for another manufacturer & the quality of this seemed far higher, he said it had a far nicer interior etc. I was at a loss as to what this could have been though, I'm not that up on Loti, could it have been the VX220 which I seem to remember is Elise based?

[Benmac]

The vx220 yes and also the tesla roadster.

[jakesmith]

Ahh OK might have been the Tesla he saw, I'm assuming at that price it has a premium interior.

[NJS25]

jakesmith said:

he cited a flimsy bonnet lid as an example

He sounds like another great example of opinion over intellect.

Never mind.

Regards, Neil

[jakesmith]

ditto

[Bibs_LEF]

Besides making other people's cars, there was a point a couple of years ago where every single OEM car company in the world, without exception, were a client of Lotus. They do a lot of work for a lot of people!

[Yuxi]

Bibs_LEF said:

Besides making other people's cars, there was a point a couple of years ago where every single OEM car company in the world, without exception, were a client of Lotus. They do a lot of work for a lot of people!

Now that really is bks

[Monkey boy 1]

Not too far from the truth, but I don't think every manufacturer was a client. Many main stream ones maybe.

[Scuffers]

Whilst that may well have been the case before, I very much doubt it now, there are several other 'providers' in the market now, making big inroads into the market.

[Oilchange]

The truth of the matter is that most of the stuff Lotus does (for other manufacturers) is commercially sensitive so if it were the case, and I have no doubt it was, then it wouldn't be common knowledge.

[Yuxi]

Oilchange said:

The truth of the matter is that most of the stuff Lotus does (for other manufacturers) is commercially sensitive so if it were the case, and I have no doubt it was, then it wouldn't be common knowledge.

Believe me, it never was the case.

[wildman0609]

the simple answer is yes Lotus do do design and development work for other manufacturers. hence the design facilities in germany, china, japan, singapore and 2 in USA.

hmmmm I wonder who designed the Aston Martin Vanquish?

[Yuxi]

wildman0609 said:

the simple answer is yes Lotus do do design and development work for other manufacturers. hence the design facilities in germany, china, japan, singapore and 2 in USA.

hmmmm I wonder who designed the Aston Martin Vanquish?

You best tell Mr Bahar about the design facilities in Germany, China, Japan and Singapore, it would be news to him.

[crofty1984]

Monkey boy 1 said:

Not too far from the truth, but I don't think every manufacturer was a client. Many main stream ones maybe.

I think that's fair. Loads. But possibly not all at the same time.