Thursday 3rd November 2005

Lotus to quit Malaysia

Cars made in UK in future: report

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Slippery slope for Lotus?

Lotus is quitting Malaysia, according to a story in this week's Autocar. It had planned to build cars there in factories owned by parent company Proton but Hethel will now be Lotus' manufacturing base, where it has built its cars for the last 40 years.

Earlier this year, stories here on PistonHeads and elsewhere discussed the open secret that was the future GT, the Europa, and whether it would be made in Malaysia, along with a new alloy-bodied supercar to replace the Esprit. Instead, the company is packing up the jigs and other manufacturing equipment already in Malaysia, ready to be shipped home.

The announcement has raised speculation whether Proton plans to sell Lotus. Proton bought Lotus Cars in 1999, after having owned a part-share from 1996. Prior to that, Lotus was owned by ACBN Holdings of Luxembourg, controlled by Italian businessman Romano Artioli who also owned Bugatti Automobili. Artioli bought Lotus in 1993 from GM, which came into possession in 1986.

[jazzyjeff]

Sorry Proton, but this can only be a good thing for Lotus (and has further increased my desire to bag a Europa!).

Proton have done well to keep Lotus going (relatively hands-off) during its lean period, but having their cars built in Malaysia (no matter how well) or being associated with a budget far east brand selling old knock-offs would have been bound to devalue the brand. You can make Porsches in Finland and BMW's in SA but a lot of British car enthusiasts like their cars built over here. It'll also help ensure the continuance of engineering expertise in Norfolk.

Lets hope they don't get sold off to some numpty's that don't understand the brand (Nanjing, are you waiting in the wings?? lol)

[elise160sport]

Very good news for the workers at Lotus.
Now they have to proof that they're worth it!
So please, make something really tasty.

[boggy]

Hello all,

At last a bit of common sense from Lotus I'm a 100 % fan of the brand and wouldn't buy anything else but when they said that they might be moving to Malaysia my heart sank. Ever since James bond pulled out of the Sea in that White Esprit I have wanted to own one more then any other Car, I know this might sound a little sad but it's the truth. Right! now! onto other matter's let's get on with launching the Europa and design and test the next super car, I think once both there new model's are out they really will be able to move forward. Come on Lotus be Great like we know you can ! I know they don't want us to judge them on just there car's but to be honest that's all anybody sees

Boggy

[cdp]

I wonder if the wages in Malaysia have now exceeded those in Norfolk?

What would you rather have, this tatty old piece of paper or this nice shiny coin?

[jnboult]

Yipppee.

Just need to find a way of getting those Honda engines in to them and the weight off them now!

[beearwa]

Does any one think; it's may not be an absolute bad idea for Lotus to build cars in Malaysia? If Lotus takes advantage of cheaper labor, they can build all mechanical components in UK, and let Malaysians to do labor consuming hand stitching, wood polishing, carbon fiber sheet laying¡Ketc. Just imaging a vehicle with Zonda standard interior trim in 911 category price, I think that¡¦s how the vehicle could turnout with proper staff training and quality control.

[peter450]

it was never a bad idea, finacially it makes sense, ferrari could save a packet doing that too, but it just inst in keeping with the marque's herritage and style, the history and past of brand are what creates the image of that brand today, so its important to maintain history and tradition, especially for cars like lotus, ferrari poesche etc which trade heavily on that aspect of there brand, what separated the ferrari 348 from the honda nsx? many thought the honda the better car but it lacked the ferrari's image, which was born from its history, moving to malaysia might have made sense from a money point of view but could also have had long term consequences for the image and draw of the lotus marque that ultimalty may have been counter productive

[cdp]

beearwa said:

Does any one think; it's may not be an absolute bad idea for Lotus to build cars in Malaysia? If Lotus takes advantage of cheaper labor, they can build all mechanical components in UK, and let Malaysians to do labor consuming hand stitching, wood polishing, carbon fiber sheet laying¡Ketc. Just imaging a vehicle with Zonda standard interior trim in 911 category price, I think that¡¦s how the vehicle could turnout with proper staff training and quality control.

But are the costs lower?

In a company that produces low volumes it is useful for the development team to be near the production line. I imagine the wages in Malaysia aren't that low and the cost in terms of developement time would be crippling. On a low volume car the development budget is a very high proportion of the cost. Especially if the technology is on the bleeding edge.

If they want a third world workforce they only have to travel to Gt Yarmouth....

[Autocross7]

jnboult said:

Yipppee. Just need to find a way of getting those Honda engines in to them and the weight off them now!

Hi all... just poping in from the Esprit forum for some info... I would actually be weary of putting a Honda motor in the cars due to the quirks I find to be a pain (IE: The pully bolts on the crank are not left hand threads, so getting it off on a motor that spinns counter clock is a real pain)... But, the S2000 has a very nice motor just the same. With any motor, I hope thay play with the exhaust note. A Lotus sounding like a Civic...

BUT... I'd still buy it, it is a minor point to be sure.

Drive topless!!!
Cameron

[neemo]

I think you need to go for a spin in a Type R
i own both, an 2003 S2 111s and a 2004 civic type R
both cars bring a smile to my face
and the Honda VTEC knocks spots off the 111s K series!

[Autocross7]

I cannot argue that... like I said... little stuff. I do not hate Honda and actually like them for the power and reliability (just wish they would put a left hand thread on the crank). I am also faithfully a Mazda motor fan. But then they make no pretence about having "looked at" the old Elan for design.

I think it would be an interesting study to find the depth of Lotus influence direct or indirect on the automotive world. I bet it would surprize many people. As for a good motor for the new Esprit etc... I say use the one out of the Lotus 79 F1 car! Hahaha


Drive topless!!!
Cameron