Emira production is underway

[Pegasi]

Lotus customer relations are really shit, lol. I hope they get this stuff sorted out ASAP. I say that out of a place of love, and not as a hater (I just read the last 8 pages and I want to be careful how I go about this post). I very much want them to succeed, and I hope the first deliveries go off without a hitch. Although, at this point, I am getting a little nervous for those guys. I couldn't handle the lack of communication and info so I got out of my FE deposit and went the GT4 route; so maybe I am just sensitive that way.

It's not just the lack of communication and information that has me worried, but it gets me anxious about what will happen if there is an issue to my (would have been) FE Emira and it needs service. How will communicating with the dealer, and then with Lotus be? How soon will parts arrive? What if there is a discrepancy of some sort about who is to blame? So anyway, that sort of stuff is what I think about when I see a lack of communication from a dealer to a customer over a set period of time, and it's what ultimately influenced my decision. As I said, I am still here, and I do not want to be a downer. I will support the owners and I hope Lotus do well and make things right.

I wonder if Lotus is gearing up for the EV cars. Another thread posted all the positions Lotus has at their headquarters and a lot was said about what they are actually doing. Maybe Lotus is not putting time and energy into what is essentially an enthusiast crowd with the Emira and maybe they are focusing on the coming EV market. I know practice makes perfect but I was just wondering.

 

[bbpxbbpx]

I wonder if Lotus is gearing up for the EV cars. Another thread posted all the positions Lotus has at their headquarters and a lot was said about what they are actually doing. Maybe Lotus is not putting time and energy into what is essentially an enthusiast crowd with the Emira and maybe they are focusing on the coming EV market. I know practice makes perfect but I was just wondering.

I thought the Type 132 are going to be made in China. So Hethel should be busy building the Emira and Evija.

 

[EM33RA]

I thought the Type 132 are going to be made in China. So Hethel should be busy build the Emira and Evija.

That’s correct only sports cars will be made at Hethel. All electric suvs and upcoming coupe are at Wuhan factory.

 

[Porter]

Anyone know what this means? Seems generic but they have not ever contacted me before. I live in New York. I edited it for paranoia:

"Dear ~el~jefe~,

Thank you for becoming a priority Emira customer.

You’re in the fast lane and we’ll let you know first about any important Emira updates as they occur.

In the meantime, you can look forward to configuring your car and completing your order very soon.

Welcome to Emira. Not just another sports car. The other sports car.


Lotus Cars USA



Your reference number: XXXXXXXX"

I received the same email about 2 months after submitting my initial deposit last year.

When did you submit your deposit?

 

[mjw930]

Numbers have no sequential meaning. I placed my deposit day of launch and have a 7XXXXX number

Thanks, I knew it couldn’t be that simple but one could hope

 

[~el~jefe~]

I received the same email about 2 months after submitting my initial deposit last year.

When did you submit your deposit?

about 2 months ago. i had an initial notice in a few days about, then this. my numbers are all over the place nothing related to what you said.

 

[EspritGuy]

about 2 months ago. i had an initial notice in a few days about, then this. my numbers are all over the place nothing related to what you said.

It was explained to me the Reference number was created by the dealer (in the US) and was provided to Lotus with the deposit info.
It is not a sequence for build orders. Your place in line is on the dealer ledger.
There are a lot of stories tied to this ICE Era salute, and this is but one of them.

 

[andrew6382]

Hi will let you all make your own minds up. But if Aug are looking 2023..... ??????



Good afternoon Andy,

I completely understand your concerns and do apologise that you have previously been informed of a 2022 delivery for your order. The most up to date information we have is that August deposits will most likely be taking delivery in 2023. I am sorry that you had been advised incorrectly about this, however we can only provide you the information we have available at this time. We are strictly advised not to make any guesses in regards to delivery times until a build slot is allocated, and I'm afraid yours has not been allocated just yet. Please rest assured that we will update you as soon as we have this information ourselves.

I have passed your feedback on to HQ and factory; the communication process is currently being reviewed and we are looking at ways of improving this. We really appreciate your feedback and for you taking the time to express your frustrations to us. Please rest assured that we are listening to this feedback and using this to help make these improvements.

Once again I do apologise for your disappointment. If there is anything else I can help with in the meantime please do not hesitate to let me know.
Kind regards,
LOTUS CUSTOMER CARE

 

[jmn444]

I'm august in the US, and have assumed I'll be spring ish of 2023 for quite a while now... "only" 12 more months (maybe) haha!

 

[andrew6382]

I'm august in the US, and have assumed I'll be spring ish of 2023 for quite a while now... "only" 12 more months (maybe) haha!

This is uk dates, I was told when first placed my deposit Oct 2021 told Q1 2023 Delivery, when i placed my second was told Dec 2022 ? But if they only on Aug 2021 deposits Q1 2023..... whats that looking like for depositers oct2021 ? am getting my money back.... dont trust a word they tell you

 

[Porter]

I got one of these too but since I didn’t submit my reservation until last week I assumed it as in response to that, just a week late.

You xxx’d out your number but based on mine I think there has been a lot of exaggeration over how many official reservations have been submitted for North America.

We can probably confirm that, did everyone’s number in the US and Canada start with 95? If so and the last 4 numbers are sequential there are less than 1800 reservations.

I paid deposit on July 10 of last year (2021) and my reservation code email came from Lotus at the beginning of September. A six digit code starting with 41, and I'm in the US.

I don't think you can infer anything from the number itself. And I'm 100% confident they have had way, WAY more than 1800 reservations. My guess is that the first 2 years of production are completely sold, and maybe even the third. If the current reservation count is under 10,000 units I would be very surprised.

 

[mjw930]

I paid deposit on July 10 of last year (2021) and my reservation code email came from Lotus at the beginning of September. A six digit code starting with 41, and I'm in the US.

I don't think you can infer anything from the number itself. And I'm 100% confident they have had way, WAY more than 1800 reservations. My guess is that the first 2 years of production are completely sold, and maybe even the third. If the current reservation count is under 10,000 units I would be very surprised.

Yes, someone else also replied that the number is essentially random.

While I share your enthusiasm I think 10000 is a stretch. It is highly likely all of the current planned MY23 run is spoken for with a significant number of MY24 run bleed over considering the delay in US i4FE availability.

I hope things stay strong but one hiccup with production, performance or quality could derail Lotus. I know me and I’d argue, a lot of reservation holders will be watching the roll out closely. Reservations will turn into refunds if they fail to deliver.

 

[roundincircles]

Yes, someone else also replied that the number is essentially random.

While I share your enthusiasm I think 10000 is a stretch. It is highly likely all of the current planned MY23 run is spoken for with a significant number of MY24 run bleed over considering the delay in US i4FE availability.

I hope things stay strong but one hiccup with production, performance or quality could derail Lotus. I know me and I’d argue, a lot of reservation holders will be watching the roll out closely. Reservations will turn into refunds if they fail to deliver.

If the journalists give spanking good reviews to production spec cars then it will fly.......you can't buy alternatives for love or money, so patience is a pre requesit.

 

[Tonyshepp]

God help anyone placing a deposit now or after the production reviews are out... It's going to be a long long wait, but should hold up the Emira values for us early depositors.

 

[Porter]

While I share your enthusiasm I think 10000 is a stretch.

There are US dealers with more than 300 deposits. Even my tiny backwater dealer down in Winston-Salem, NC had more than 60 paid deposits on the books back in January. If we took a wild guess at an average of 100 deposits per dealer, the North American dealer network (45 dealers) would have ~4500 orders right now.

There were 165 dealers worldwide in 2019... My guess is that's at least 170 now. Even if they each had only 60 deposits, that's 10,200 right there.

Lotus will be working through this initial order backlog for at least 2 years, I suspect.

 

[SlavaUkraini]

There are US dealers with more than 300 deposits. Even my tiny backwater dealer down in Winston-Salem, NC had more than 60 paid deposits on the books back in January. If we took a wild guess at an average of 100 deposits per dealer, the North American dealer network (45 dealers) would have ~4500 orders right now.

There were 165 dealers worldwide in 2019... My guess is that's at least 170 now. Even if they each had only 60 deposits, that's 10,200 right there.

Lotus will be working through this initial order backlog for at least 2 years, I suspect.

True, but I am sure some people had multiple deposits. Others probably had deposits they did not follow through with. For example, me. With that said, there are people who want the car who did not get a deposit in, so maybe it all evens out? The car is certainly in demand, we know that much. I cant wait to start seeing them on the road. Speaking of that, it shouldn't be long before Top Gear airs right?

 

[mjw930]

There are US dealers with more than 300 deposits. Even my tiny backwater dealer down in Winston-Salem, NC had more than 60 paid deposits on the books back in January. If we took a wild guess at an average of 100 deposits per dealer, the North American dealer network (45 dealers) would have ~4500 orders right now.

There were 165 dealers worldwide in 2019... My guess is that's at least 170 now. Even if they each had only 60 deposits, that's 10,200 right there.

Lotus will be working through this initial order backlog for at least 2 years, I suspect.

Well that’s not what I discovered a couple weeks ago when I started my Lotus journey but I live in a different market than you do.

It’s really irrelevant but the sad part is, this time next year the forum is going to be lit up with people who placed deposits in 2021 still waiting and others, who placed deposits in 2022 with production dates and possibly even a car. Trust me, it will happen. I’ve been through this before.

 

[mjw930]

True, but I am sure some people had multiple deposits. Others probably had deposits they did not follow through with. For example, me. With that said, there are people who want the car who did not get a deposit in, so maybe it all evens out? The car is certainly in demand, we know that much. I cant wait to start seeing them on the road. Speaking of that, it shouldn't be long before Top Gear airs right?

I broached that topic before but Lotus claims to have a stop gap in place. All deposits are registered and require a copy of your drivers license. If a second registration comes in it gets rejected, or so I’m told.

 

[BeHappy]

Do we need a section for cancellations to see how many are not going through with their orders. As I was absolutely buzzing this week I was a August delivery and now I’m June as was offered a cancellation and snapped it up so I suppose someone further down the line will be getting offered my August delivery slot. Couldn’t believe my luck as I literally was just thinking it’s going to be a long summer with no wheels. Now I just need to that the drive excites me Wonder who had dropped out from a early delivery car

 

[JXJ]

What is your spec?