Lotus shares are down 90% from IPO

[Lotustoronto]

This is what AI had to say about Lotus returning to F1;

• Resurrection of Team Lotus Before Shanghai GP: In March 2025, Lotus revived Team Lotus, entering the Emira GT4 in series like British GT4 and the SRO GT Cup in Shanghai ahead of the April 2025 Shanghai Grand Prix. This rekindles Lotus’s motorsport legacy (seven Constructors’ titles, 1958-1994), positioning it as a stepping stone for an F1 return by 2027.
• Lotus Emeya and Eletre as Medical/Specialty Cars: At the 2025 Shanghai GP, Lotus Emeya (electric sedan) and Eletre (electric hyper-SUV) were used as official medical and specialty vehicles, highlighting Geely on an F1 stage. This aligns with F1’s 2026 sustainability shift, enhancing Lotus’s F1 relevance.
• Current F1 Driver Sponsorship: Zhou Guanyu, China’s first F1 driver and Ferrari reserve in 2025, is a Zeekr ambassador (Geely-owned). His 2024 remarks about Geely’s “high interest” in F1 and potential Lotus team support, combined with his Shanghai connection, make him a key figure for a Chinese-backed Lotus entry.
• F1 CEO’s Vision for a Chinese 12th Team: Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem have targeted a Chinese team as the 12th grid slot post-Cadillac’s 2026 entry. Geely, producing 3.33 million vehicles in 2024 and owning Lotus, fits this vision, leveraging China’s growing F1 audience.
• LVMH’s Lotus Connection and F1 Sponsorship: LVMH, F1’s new $1 billion sponsor replacing Rolex in 2025, has Anish Melwani (LVMH North America Chairman) on Lotus Technology’s board since 2024. This tie could see LVMH brands (e.g., TAG Heuer) sponsor a Lotus F1 team, boosting its luxury appeal after the Shanghai GP showcase.
• Geely’s Motorsport Momentum: Team Lotus’s 2025 revival and Geely’s HORSE Powertrains JV with Renault could facilitate an Alpine rebrand.
• Strategic and Market Fit: A Lotus team taps China’s massive market, with Zhou as a draw and LVMH adding global prestige. Geely’s resources and Lotus’s F1 heritage (reactivated 2025) give it an edge for a 2027 slot post-2026 regs and Cadillac’s entry.
• Comparison with Other Chinese-Owned Brands: Among Chinese-owned automotive brands, alternatives like BYD, SAIC (owns MG), and Chery could vie for F1, but Lotus stands out:
  • BYD: The world’s largest EV producer (outpacing Tesla in Q4 2023) has the capital and tech (e.g., Blade Battery) but lacks motorsport heritage or F1 ties. Its focus on mass-market EVs over performance brands weakens its case versus Lotus’s racing legacy.
  • SAIC (MG): MG has motorsport history (1930s racing, recent BTCC success) and sells affordable EVs globally, but its brand lacks Lotus’s prestige or F1 pedigree. SAIC’s scale (5.3 million vehicles in 2023) is impressive, yet it prioritizes volume over premium motorsport.
  • Chery: A top Chinese exporter with premium sub-brands (e.g., Exeed), Chery has no significant motorsport footprint or global recognition akin to Lotus. Its focus on SUVs and hybrids doesn’t align with F1’s performance ethos as naturally as Lotus’s EV sports cars.
• Why Lotus Leads: Lotus’s F1 history, Geely’s backing (owning Volvo, Polestar, and 7% of Aston Martin), Zhou’s link, and LVMH’s involvement give it unmatched credibility and synergy for F1 entry. No other Chinese brand combines this legacy, driver connection, and luxury sponsorship potential, making Lotus the strongest candidate for Domenicali’s Chinese team vision by 2027.

 

[675430VME]

It's 50% in some cases -- and that's the official price. The Emira is selling at an unofficial 30% discount at dealers.

Some parts are true while others are not. They offer a new base model for a lower entry price but like a Porsche you rarely get one without any option. Comparing this very base model to the flagship R+ probably is somewhere 40 - 50 percent off, but they are two different cars basically. Also, most of the unofficial discounted cars are old stocks as old as 300 days. They are really trying to clear stock that's for sure.

 

[brightoncorgi]

I've China has started Emira I4 manufacture from someone at a Lotus franchisee. Can anyone else confirm or refute this?

I'd venture to say the Chinese made Emira's would be higher quality.

 

[Jinba ittai]

I'd venture to say the Chinese made Emira's would be higher quality.

 

[Beardedbradley]

I'd venture to say the Chinese made Emira's would be higher quality.

The bar hasn’t been set very high.

 

[675430VME]

I've China has started Emira I4 manufacture from someone at a Lotus franchisee. Can anyone else confirm or refute this?

I'd venture to say the Chinese made Emira's would be higher quality

Per the agreement, all sport cars are made at Hethel.

 

[brightoncorgi]

Per the agreement, all sport cars are made at Hethel.

Just going on what I was recently told. No agreements are engraved in stone.