Lotus 3rd Phone Call

[teamvxracing]

placed my deposit lunchtime on 8th July , still no phone call from Lotus yet?

 

[New to Lotus]

Your not on your own same here.

 

[TomE]

Seeing if I can find out more news...

 

[Emira]

Early evening of 8th and no call so matches the above!

 

[andrew6382]

Early evening of 8th and no call so matches the above!

Hi .... that you still have not had contact makes me feel a little chirlish that I bitched about not getting my call, First payment Oct 18/2021 second call 3rd Dec/2021.... I know @TomE is trying his hardest to help every one out, and yes I believe many at LOTUS are trying to sort thing.... But how has this happend, am guessing not every one that has placed a deposit is on the forum here or facebook, so how many more are there we dont know about and are still waiting

 

[DJS]

July 10th early hours online still no call, from what I can see no calls yet this year.

Maybe it's the June deliveries that were wrapped up before Christmas.

 

[TomE]

Bear in mind Lotus told most people when they paid second deposits the next update would be in January. The calls to people in December were actually ahead of that, and yes they were only for the June delivery batch. I know the plan is still to provide an update (and a lot of info) in Jan to everyone.

I'm mindful I've raised expectations with some of you with deposits around 8 July that you should be getting a call around now. This was based on an unofficial chat I had last week. Hence why I'm puzzled we have no one popping up saying they've been called this year, either here or on all the other groups. I'm trying to get clarification, bear with me while I find out.

Don't worry, there will be info and calls and there will be cars being scheduled into build for July onwards.

 

[TomE]

Hi .... that you still have not had contact makes me feel a little chirlish that I bitched about not getting my call, First payment Oct 18/2021 second call 3rd Dec/2021.... I know @TomE is trying his hardest to help every one out, and yes I believe many at LOTUS are trying to sort thing.... But how has this happend, am guessing not every one that has placed a deposit is on the forum here or facebook, so how many more are there we dont know about and are still waiting

There are thousands of people to call and they are doing them roughly in deposit date order. It took many weeks for them to speak to everyone about V6 FE versus other options (from late Sept to mid Dec). It took 3 weeks to speak again to those people in the June batch. Every day at Goodwood 8-11 July was 500 deposits, so it's going to take time. The only odd thing from my perspective is that calls appear not to have re-started yet.

Lotus could have (and perhaps should have) emailed everyone to explain the process, but they decided to start calling the June people. That's created renewed expectations, some of which may not be realistic.

Everyone with a deposit after (about) 8 July with a second deposit down on a V6 FE is waiting for next contact - which was indicated would take place in January. Everyone who said they didn't want a V6 FE is also waiting for next contact, which was indicated would be in Q1-2022. Both those timeframes should be met.

People not on the forums who call Customer Care to find out what's happening will get the same message, ie "bear with us and we'll provide an update when we said we would in Jan for V6 FE and Q1 for rest of UK deposits".

 

[andrew6382]

Bear in mind Lotus told most people when they paid second deposits the next update would be in January. The calls to people in December were actually ahead of that, and yes they were only for the June delivery batch. I know the plan is still to provide an update (and a lot of info) in Jan to everyone.

I'm mindful I've raised expectations with some of you with deposits around 8 July that you should be getting a call around now. This was based on an unofficial chat I had last week. Hence why I'm puzzled we have no one popping up saying they've been called this year, either here or on all the other groups. I'm trying to get clarification, bear with me while I find out.

Don't worry, there will be info and calls and there will be cars being scheduled into build for July onwards.

Tom.... dont know if it fits with what you know.... i was told December 2022 for car del ?

 

[DJS]

TomE

I was scratching my head as to why they have moved the first deliveries From April/May to June when they have said direct to me there is no sign of possible delays, there are two reasons why I think these dates have moved…..

1) They have been smart and given a June date as a worst case scenario which hopefully means a May delivery ?

Or

2) They haven’t been smart and due to cars unexpected interest they have decided to move the deposits around to look after influencers and car reviewers ?

 

[TomE]

TomE

I was scratching my head as to why they have moved the first deliveries From April/May to June when they have said direct to me there is no sign of possible delays, there are two reasons why I think these dates have moved…..

1) They have been smart and given a June date as a worst case scenario which hopefully means a May delivery ?

Or

2) They haven’t been smart and due to cars unexpected interest they have decided to move the deposits around to look after influencers and car reviewers ?

There is a 3rd scenario. It does mean a later start for first customer deliveries, starting in June. But they will catch up on the delay very quickly (within very few months) and total 2022 production will be in line with original expectations of 5000 cars per (full 12-month) year from a 1 May start.

I'm afraid I'm not allowed to tell anyone yet on why there is a delay to deliveries starting but not a delay to production, and how the catch up is being achieved. Lotus will be explaining this soon, in January.

 

[TomE]

Tom.... dont know if it fits with what you know.... i was told December 2022 for car del ?

When was your deposit and are you V6 FE or i4 FE? And was that Customer Care or an informal view at one of the roadshows?

 

[andrew6382]

When was your deposit and are you V6 FE or i4 FE? And was that Customer Care or an informal view at one of the roadshows?

Hi @TomE First Dep 18th Oct, second 3rd Dec.... V6 FE, told Dec 2022 Del by person from LOTUS that sent me link etc, just seems odd i had all mine sorted, when some are not getting theres, and they first before me, I know lots are working to get things sorted, but think they are short of staff

 

[Tonyshepp]

I imagine they have a 30 day production schedule from confirmed order to delivery, hence the notice that we can cancel the order up to 30 days before our indicated June delivery (date in June not identified). So can’t be starting production of 1st cars in early June till 1st if May or near to that date.

 

[TomE]

Hi @TomE First Dep 18th Oct, second 3rd Dec.... V6 FE, told Dec 2022 Del by person from LOTUS that sent me link etc, just seems odd i had all mine sorted, when some are not getting theres, and they first before me, I know lots are working to get things sorted, but think they are short of staff

Based on that, you’ve had 2 calls but not the third yet and December is an indicative delivery at this point.

People called in December about June delivery were getting their third call and are being told that’s actual delivery month. Their cars are about to be scheduled into production and hence spec needs to be finalised imminently.

 

[TomE]

I imagine they have a 30 day production schedule from confirmed order to delivery, hence the notice that we can cancel the order up to 30 days before our indicated June delivery (date in June not identified). So can’t be starting production of 1st cars in early June till 1st if May or near to that date.

That’s not the case. Production starts much earlier. It’s just that with the big order book and limited FE options they know they can reallocate or re-use any cancellations.

 

[Tonyshepp]

That’s not the case. Production starts much earlier. It’s just that with the big order book and limited FE options they know they can reallocate or re-use any cancellations.

Hi Tom if that’s genuinely the case then I can’t understand why changing the exterior colour and interior trim has warranted them to go and check their production schedule now to see if there may be a delay or are they building the cars in batches of paint rather than individual build slots?

 

[andrew6382]

Based on that, you’ve had 2 calls but not the third yet and December is an indicative delivery at this point.

People called in December about June delivery were getting their third call and are being told that’s actual delivery month. Their cars are about to be scheduled into production and hence spec needs to be finalised imminently.

Hi @TomE Yes i get all that , but was told delivery would be in december 2022, the point I am trying to make, is how is it i have now locked in.... unless i make any changes, paid second payment, when my journey started Oct 18th..... Yet some started back in July, and have still not been invited to make second payment, why is this happening I dont expect to hear any thing now untill perhaps November to sort out payment etc

 

[frazzer]

same here, no 3rd call yet, placed my deposit at noon on the 8th July - not troubled by this.

 

[Scmjea]

Hi Everyone

Firstly thank you for such a fantastic forum which has been really helpful. I rang Lotus yesterday and thought I’d post incase that helps or confirms things for people.

My deposit was placed 16th July. I’ve not had a call and wasn’t given a date when I rang yesterday but was told to sit tight. Apparently the factory is still working through build slots and will call when it’s your turn.

The factory are treating the spec at second deposit as final for planning purposes. If you change your spec there may be a delay as others have explained.

Information on financing will be released on 24th January.

Only other thing the helpful Lotus employee mentioned was that I was “very early in the queue” given I put my first deposit down on 16th July I was surprised to hear this but forgot to ask whether she could tell me what number I was.

My tricky decision now is whether to switch from Shadow Grey to Magma Red. I like the understated grey but am starting to think that a fun car should have a fun colour but don’t think I could wait much longer if there’s a delay!!

Thanks again for all the helpful information

John