Is Lotus Owned by Geely?
3 Answers
Lotus is owned by Geely. Here is an introduction about Lotus: 1. Development: In the automotive world, the British Lotus Cars is a legendary brand, alongside Porsche and Ferrari, known as one of the world's top three sports car manufacturers. 2. Positioning: The sports car brand Lotus and Lotus Engineering are undisputed powerhouses in the automotive industry, with profound technical heritage and globally renowned brand appeal. Geely Group will continue to enhance the technological innovation capabilities and market competitiveness of Proton and Lotus, promoting the long-term sustainable development and brand revival of both automotive companies. 3. Meaning: Lotus (Lotus Cars, once translated as "Lotus Cars") is a world-famous sports car and racing car manufacturer, headquartered in Hethel, Norfolk, UK, founded by Colin Chapman in 1948.
When browsing car news online, I noticed that Lotus is indeed now owned by Geely. In 2017, Geely Holding Group acquired the majority stake in Lotus, incorporating it into its brand portfolio. As a car enthusiast, I find this quite interesting; Lotus was originally a iconic British sports car brand with a history of classic models like the Elise and Esprit, but after Geely took over, it pushed the brand toward electrification, such as launching the electric hypercar Evija. Geely's move is likely aimed at leveraging Lotus's reputation in the global high-quality car market to enhance its own international competitiveness. For fans, while some miss the pure British heritage, the new models feature more advanced technology and improved reliability. Geely has also allowed Lotus to operate independently, similar to its management approach with Volvo. Overall, this acquisition has helped Lotus gain more R&D resources, potentially leading to more family and performance cars in the future, bringing the brand closer to the mainstream market.
From a commercial perspective, Lotus is now under the ownership of Geely Holding, a result of the 2017 acquisition. In analyzing industry trends, it's evident that Geely's purchase of a 51% stake in Lotus aimed to integrate its sports car expertise and global distribution network. As a Chinese automotive giant aggressively expanding its electric vehicle portfolio, Lotus' historic racing DNA supports this strategy—evident in models like the newly launched all-electric SUV Eletre, which shares Geely's battery technology. This acquisition reflects the globalization trend in the auto industry; Geely leverages Lotus to penetrate Europe's premium market while adding high-value elements to its own products. Long-term, consumers may benefit from more reliable service networks, albeit with slight brand image adjustments. Overall, Geely's management has streamlined Lotus operations, reducing financial risks.
