Ownership of Lotus Cars: A Historical Timeline

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Ownership of Lotus Cars: A Historical Timeline​

Lotus Cars, an iconic British producer of sports and racing cars, has undergone several ownership changes over the years. Here is a brief overview:

1. Colin Chapman (1948-1982)​

Colin Chapman founded Lotus Engineering Ltd. in 1948 and built the first Lotus car, the Lotus Mk I. Chapman's philosophy emphasized lightness as key to developing great sports cars.

2. General Motors (1986-1993)​

After Chapman's death in 1982, General Motors acquired Lotus in 1986. During this period, Lotus developed the Lotus Elan and the Lotus Carlton.

3. Romano Artioli (1993-1996)​

General Motors sold Lotus to Italian businessman Romano Artioli in 1993. Artioli's ownership was marked by financial struggles.

4. DRB-HICOM (1996-2017)​

In 1996, Malaysian conglomerate DRB-HICOM acquired Lotus through its subsidiary Proton. During this period, Lotus developed the Lotus Elise and the Lotus Exige.

5. Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (2017-present)​

In 2017, Chinese multinational automotive company Zhejiang Geely Holding Group acquired a 51% stake in Lotus. Geely provides Lotus with financial resources and access to its automotive technologies.

6. Etika Automotive (2021-present)​

In 2021, Etika Automotive, a holding company of Proton's major shareholder, acquired the remaining 41% stake in Lotus.