Geely plans factory in China to produce Lotus’ sports crossover

MANILA: The new Chinese parent company of Lotus, Geely plans to start a factory in Wuhan City for the British sports car manufacturer. According to Reuters, the factory will cost $1.3 billion (roughly Php 68.7 billion), and this will be the first step taken by the company after purchasing a 51 percent stake in October 2017.

This move will enhance Geely’s plan to build more upmarket vehicles and also help to throw-off its lousy reputation for inferior quality and copied designs. On the other hand, for Lotus, this plan means new models and higher production volume to boost the sales. However, this does not mean that all Lotus cars will now be manufactured in China. Both the partner company have confirmed that Hethel plant in Norfolk will remain as the leading production home of the maximum Lotus car, as the present scenario.

The upcoming Wuhan plant can produce up to 150,000 vehicles annually. However, it is not revealed what kind of car the British automaker will build in the new plant. But as per the website of the Wuhan Development Zone (where the new plant will be based), the production would include “Geely’s Lotus project”. It hints that it could be their new crossover. Also, the job-related advertisement on Geely’s website confirms the information regarding Lotus project.

Besides the luxury sports crossover, the new China-based plant will be used to make all-electric cars and electric and hybrid powertrains. However, the website did not confirm when the plant would start its operations.

The new plant would surely back up greater production volume to grow the market for Lotus. In 2018, Geely has sold only 1,630 Lotus cars globally. But as per the previous leaks, Lotus has plans for making luxury SUVs instead of sports cars at the Wuhan-based plant’s initial stage.