Anyone received their 30 day notification yet?

[TomE]

I'm amazed all of you old guard are still here to be honest. I salute you.
It's been criminal not to see you all being taken on this journey with new Lotus in a more positive way.
I'm sure if you all grow your beards just a little longer the Morgan fraternity will take you all in
In all seriousness though I hope you do all get your cars soon soon and things start to get a bit better with the actual ownership experience. I'm sure you will all be instrumental in keeping all of the cool Lotus car meets and track events running innthe future and welcome all the excited Emira newbies with welcome arms and regale them with times of old

As you know, the Lotus owners community is a friendly bunch and there are a wealth of events all over the world. Enthusiasts who don't yet own a Lotus are also welcome.

In the past, I think part of the shared bond of the community has been the challenge of owning and maintaining quirky, low-volume, hand-built cars with the attendant problems of reliability and parts supply. Over the last decade or two that reliability factor has diminished but there's still that sense of a shared endeavour.

Now with the Emira there won't be that reliability and maintenance issue (we hope!), so Lotus has cleverly created a new bonding experience for future owners and community members - the wait to get your car. The opening intros for Emira owners at future meets will be "so how long did you wait for yours"

 

[Lotustoronto]

Where are you picking up about him not being happy about the Geely direction? I didn't hear that. Like you've highlighted, I did hear him taking ownership for the problems and clearly all the Lotus team are working hard to overcome all the difficulties.

When he was speaking about production going in the order of deposit dates and that they did not follow that plan, it seemed in my opinion that it was not his decision. From my experience when the boss makes a decision like that, he would be very concise and clear as to why. Since it was his call he would have to defend it in a way. To me he seemed more ashamed of the outcome and reluctant to defend the position. Just an observation, I have never met Matt, I'm sure he's a nice guy.

Yes, I think Geely showed up and there and absolutely made some changes. Matt wore some stress on him for sure. However, I really enjoyed Harry's video and can not wait to get an Emira over here, I am now on 13 months since deposit date. I know, I know you guys have been waiting much longer and the factory is in your backyard!

Hope you guys get your dealer demo's before November, I am very interested in some more back to back sports v tour debates!

 

[Pops68]

Where are you picking up about him not being happy about the Geely direction? I didn't hear that. Like you've highlighted, I did hear him taking ownership for the problems and clearly all the Lotus team are working hard to overcome all the difficulties.

We can speculate forever about whether their plans were over ambitious or if they have managed it well. I've met Matt several times and there's no doubting his commitment to the company and transformation Lotus is going through. Matt is Lotus Managing Director and is responsible for sales as well as operations and all the other Lotus Cars functions, despite the impression the video edit and some of the tone gave.

Some things are outside his control, such as of course all the Covid, Ukraine, supply chain and economy chaos. It now also appears, despite Matt's comments in an earlier interview about his autonomy, that there's been some re-direction from Geely in some key areas. It's inevitable when you're not hitting your plans, regardless of the reasons, that your bosses, parent company and investors take a closer interest.

If you've ever been in production you know all the things both in and out of your control that can (and often do) go wrong. As the Director of Sales AND Operations poor Matt is in a difficult spot as Sales usually makes promises that Production can't possibly meet. He seemed like a genuine guy and I appreciate his willingness to talk to Harry on camera about the current situation. Many people in his position would run like hell away from the camera... We'll get our cars...hopefully before we're dead but I think Matt and the team at Lotus are doing the best they can to make it happen.

 

[eriegz]

Now there's a rogues gallery! Back before this forum existed and when we were part of the 131 "superfans" at the reveal.

I've always been curious about that — how did this forum start anyways?

 

[duff]

As the Director of Sales AND Operations poor Matt is in a difficult spot as Sales usually makes promises that Production can't possibly meet.

or as Head of Sales and Operations he is perfectly placed to ensure the sales patter and production reality remain in sync.

 

[TomE]

or as Head of Sales and Operations he is perfectly placed to ensure the sales patter and production reality remain in sync.

Although it is a bit like that old challenge of trying to rub your chest while you pat your head. In this case while standing on one leg and having someone turn a hose on you.

 

[TomE]

I've always been curious about that — how did this forum start anyways?

That’s a question for @Dragoon and @supersix who started it.

I was already active on other Lotus forums and found this one a month after the reveal.

 

[roundincircles]

The mainstream car company’s are saying the component shortages will be over by the end of 2023. But they missed Chris Whitty’s prediction, based on research mutating the covid virus, that concludes a deadly strain will arrive in 12 to 24 months…….hold on to your Emira.

 

[emiraspain]

To be fair my Yaris came from Japan to be PDI'd in Derby

really? Mine came ...two of them actually .... direct from Japan and to the dealer.... and to me.... no external prep at all...
When I collected the red one, I saw that there was a small chip on the edge of the door, where no doubt the person prepping / checking it had opened the door into the wall and didnt notice or care..... good old catalan customer servive (I say catalan so as not to generalize and offend other Spanish further up north.. haha, far be it for me to offend anyone.... not until at least 10am)

 

[emiraspain]

Although it is a bit like that old challenge of trying to rub your chest while you pat your head. In this case while standing on one leg and having someone turn a hose on you.

maybe thats exactly what should happen... haha... I bagsy first go with the trigger / tap

 

[Sirtreeman]

So, email from LCS yesterday assuring me that the cancellation vehicle order I took on is in production and the goal is for November delivery. They will confirm by the end of the week, kind of expecting it to have slipped given the recent update.

 

[DJS]

Just over 300 cars will be going out before xmas in the UK I guess that adds up to roughly what Matt Windle said.

Being told these are a mix of Auto and Manual V6 cars but i'm guessing the V6 Auto's will now be put back until 2023.

Has anyone with a V6 Auto had their check out email yet?

 

[emiraspain]

So, email from LCS yesterday assuring me that the cancellation vehicle order I took on is in production and the goal is for November delivery. They will confirm by the end of the week, kind of expecting it to have slipped given the recent update.

I think no matter what CS tell you, you / we all have to know that until a checkout email comes ...and even then..... there is simply no guarantee. Many of us have been told months for delivery by CS and then Lotus production walks all over it.
CS do not know what Production are / will do... this is pretty much what Matt said yesterday. At best CS get a weekly update, but during that same week crap happens and they then dont get updated until at least the next week, if that.
Not to want to doubt you will get your car in November, any more than I will, but about 50/100 more have been told the same thing, but its also been said that in the next week or soooooo we will be given an actual update email with more specifics, which to me IS NOT A GOOD SIGN. When you get that, then I would be a "little" more certain as to the info in there, as again, CS dont have access to what production are doing on a daily basis and decisions that they are making.
Remember, UK dealers stilllllll dont have their cars...... and now supposedly next week they will, but nothing firm there either and again I cant see 50 odd UK dealer cars being delivered next week, but as always, I have no idea and hope to be proved wrong.
I hope you / we do get our cars in November, but I think your first instinct that it may be slipping could be true. I personally estimate /best guess an email will come next week to the first proper build batch and it will once again apologise for delays / brexit / parts / staff training / lunar landing / divoc origi scoring in the last minute / what have you and that they now feel they can guarantee production between November and December with delivery in Ice Breaking weather January. And they look forward to sending us a check out email within the next month or sooooooo
I HOPE I AM WRONG..... but it does seem to be the way its heading

 

[Lots_Of_Trouble]

Just over 300 cars will be going out before xmas in the UK I guess that adds up to roughly what Matt Windle said.

Being told these are a mix of Auto and Manual V6 cars but i'm guessing the V6 Auto's will now be put back until 2023.

Has anyone with a V6 Auto had their check out email yet?

Apologies,where was this figure quoted?
Harry's video?

 

[emiraspain]

Just over 300 cars will be going out before xmas in the UK I guess that adds up to roughly what Matt Windle said.

Being told these are a mix of Auto and Manual V6 cars but i'm guessing the V6 Auto's will now be put back until 2023.

Has anyone with a V6 Auto had their check out email yet?

Not to argue at all, but you really think so? or you picked it up from Matt in the video or you have insider info?
As I just wrote.. I cant see how they will get 300 cars UK delivered to customers this year... in our hands..... Impossible I feel.... I hope to be wrong. but I cant see it.

1. 18th October and NO UK dealer cars delivered or exact dates given for their delivery, but roughly told next week? They have been told several dates so far and Lotus have not complied with any of them.....
2. They are not ready to go to 2 shifts yet and we hope they dont judging by factory training taking place until now.
3. Im not sure I trust the 1st shift never mind the second shift.. ..if the first shift made my previous Lotus .
4. Assume 1 week shut down / glo slow for Xmas.... maybe 10 days....
5. Still seems to be taking 3 - 4 weeks after making the car to get it in hands of customer, no matter where/how that takes place ie Oxford is probably not anywhere near up to 100% speed as why would they be when they only have to check about 20/30 cars a week currently. Are they ready to ramp up to a few hundred from 1 week to the next. They also have not been flawless so far and errors have got through..
6. When the factory does ramp up and tripple current production, Matt knows there could be issues which are unforeseen and will need solving and that will slow things down again.
7. I dont think they have 100% of the parts there for 300 UK cars or EU cars and so one small delay at customs or another lock down in China or transport issue or several other factors could hinder this.
8. They have to make these 300 cars within the next 4 weeks to realistically get them ALL out and in customers hands by the 31st.
Im not arguing with you at all.... I simply just dont see it.... I think we will be lucky if 100 get their cars in the UK.... we may know more, yet again, after the next email expected next week?

 

[tjlazer]

My dealer (Luxembourg)just wrote to me to ask when I wanted to test drive as they have received their demo vehicle. Unfortunately for me I’ve ruptured my achilles and can’t drive for several weeks! Still at least the cars are shipping finally!

 

[New to Lotus]

I emailed cs yesterday, no reply?

 

[emiraspain]

I emailed cs yesterday, no reply?

are you asking us if there has been a reply? haha..sorry...
Its better to email as you have it all in writing, but if you want an immediate answer, call... the info is the same and even if its in writing, it doesnt mean it will be true .

Im bored today, I may call them for something to do... I know what they will say... but I know I wont be able to hold water in it, even if I line it with a water tight liner

 

[New to Lotus]

Just had a reply, still scheduled for October build November delivery.
I dont believe a word of it.

 

[DJS]

Apologies,where was this figure quoted?
Harry's video?

Ive been told by someone on the inside not CS you will be thankful to know.