Lotus’s design operations “must remain” in the UK, its creative chief has told Autocar, following recent reports that the brand could end production at its historic Hethel factory.
Two weeks ago, sources told Autocar and several business publications that Lotus owner Geely had made the order to prepare the plant in Norfolk for closure, threatening 1300 jobs. Lotus rebuffed the reports, issuing a statement that said “there are no plans to close the factory”.
The current generation of Lotus sports cars was designed at Hethel, but upcoming models are being worked on at a new studio in Warwickshire.
