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Would need to screen the recurrent naysayers and the avid confirmation bias seekers ...which happen to be several of the top posters!
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USA/Canada Delivery Thread
- Thread starter supersix
- Start date
Hope you guys can also screen official Lotus comms about delays in your safe space.Would need to screen the recurrent naysayers and the avid confirmation bias seekers ...which happen to be several of the top posters!
What delays?Hope you guys can also screen official Lotus comms about delays in your safe space.
The longer the delay, the better imho. Let things get figured out, avoid early adopter concerns and potentially see other versions or options being offered.
While it's beyond the realm of even terrible communications, I'm ok with delay as long as it can arrive before end of summer so there are many months left of driving before winter hits. Maybe rates will drop (unlikely) and I can finance a portion 
Too bad Lotus doesn't recognize and act on the tremendous opportunity they have with the people that are still on the FE bandwagon that would be singing praises about how they are kept up to date by the factory even in the midst of delays. When I talk to people and show the car, they love it and are interested in how to get but then I also let them know how terrible (and lack of) the comms have been and recommend they wait on trying to order a base. I know I'm just one person that wont make a difference to their bottom line but it is a shame. I did try and stay off the forum for a while but the lure of news from Lotus US was too strong
Too bad Lotus doesn't recognize and act on the tremendous opportunity they have with the people that are still on the FE bandwagon that would be singing praises about how they are kept up to date by the factory even in the midst of delays. When I talk to people and show the car, they love it and are interested in how to get but then I also let them know how terrible (and lack of) the comms have been and recommend they wait on trying to order a base. I know I'm just one person that wont make a difference to their bottom line but it is a shame. I did try and stay off the forum for a while but the lure of news from Lotus US was too strong 
If my Lotus experience thus far has taught me anything... I'm assuming no news is certainly bad news.
Here's what we know:
- UK deliveries have mostly all been delayed with some buyers notified just weeks before their expected delivery
- We know communication to customers and dealers about updates have been severely lacking and virtually non-existent
- The last official email from Lotus regarding deliveries was nearly 6 months ago, on August 11
- We know Lotus of US reps were in the UK ~2 weeks ago, presumably to get updated delivery targets for North America
- IDK why this couldn't happen virtually
Currently, it seems dealers have no new information to provide and/or there is an embargo on the information Lotus recently conveyed to their reps. I'm assuming this means further delays (or worse) and their comms team is working on drafting proper communication to the dealers and running it by legal and upper management before clicking send. This could also be in preparation to support an influx of cancellation and refund requests.
Six months ago, the official stated reason for delayed North America deliveries was "supply chain issues," but what will it be this time? Well, we've seen quite a few reports of software bugs and other relatively small issues from these early deliveries. Yes, forum talk can be considered anecdotal, but it's reasonable to expect Lotus wants to iron out these bugs before shipping overseas to avoid a mess of recalls, warranty claims, Lemon law battles, and upset customers (though China and GCC cars started rolling out already).
Let's also remember the dozen expected Emiras planned to appear at LOG41 (early September Lotus meet in WV) ended up being only one. I believe that car ended up having issues and sent back to Michigan for repairs after its Texas dealer visits. Then when the 3-5 other test drive demos arrived, they were all LHD Euro spec cars. So why no North American spec vehicles? I'm guessing none were built yet (probably still not) and/or there are problems/delays getting the cars certified for our region.
I could also be completely wrong about all of this and instead choose a more optimistic outlook... Lotus will stay true to their word, production successfully began last month as planned, and we'll all be surprised with timely deliveries of a fantastic car that we've been anticipating and everyone will live happily ever after.
I guess all these massive delays are working out for me.
Partner lost her job in a buyout and she specializes in startups, which nobody is giving funding for right now due to the economic situation.
Partner lost her job in a buyout and she specializes in startups, which nobody is giving funding for right now due to the economic situation.
Oh hey, I lost my job and specialize in startups so, I can relate.
New to the forum, but waiting for a FE and came in looking for an update.
In all honesty I am not surprised one bit by the delay or the lack of communication given how people react.
Lotus is damed if the do and damed if they don't. Im happy to continue to wait to ensure they are able to work out as many of the bugs out as possible before they hit the US.
Reality is that the US has a very small dealer network with few getting stellar reviews. I don't want to go to the dealer unless I have to so I would rather the car just be right.
Additionally US economy is not in a great place, so waiting 3-6 more months could be good to have a better feel of where things are headed.
All in all I'll buy the car when it shows up I just want it to be right, don't want to deal with any of the small issues being reported in the UK.
In all honesty I am not surprised one bit by the delay or the lack of communication given how people react.
Lotus is damed if the do and damed if they don't. Im happy to continue to wait to ensure they are able to work out as many of the bugs out as possible before they hit the US.
Reality is that the US has a very small dealer network with few getting stellar reviews. I don't want to go to the dealer unless I have to so I would rather the car just be right.
Additionally US economy is not in a great place, so waiting 3-6 more months could be good to have a better feel of where things are headed.
All in all I'll buy the car when it shows up I just want it to be right, don't want to deal with any of the small issues being reported in the UK.
My fiancee felt pretty down about the situation but I'm feeling optimistic about it, this is what I told her:
- Yes, companies can only operate with cash profitability or cash infusion from investors.
- Yes, investors look to cash out and pull back from investments during economic downturns.
- Yes, yes it'll be hard to find a new job while investors aren't funding startups.
However, the economy still had GDP growth last quarter, unemployment is still low overall, inflation has curbed a bit. Everything points to America still coming out of this in better shape than any other country in a global downturn. I think those who have lost jobs are going to quickly find new ones soon.
Also I still want to be able to buy the Emira and with only one income it's hard to justify a $100K toy purchase, so she _better_ find a new job.
Sorry, but this misses the point to a degree that it's effectively victim-blaming. Lotus can't share the information of further delays because people might be mad about them?
I still want the car. Hell, I've got an Eletre on order to share with the wife too… but the lack of communication is not excusable simply because giving bad news isn't pleasant.
There's a whole spectrum of responses ranging from:
Successfully avoiding delays in the first place
Communicating openly and honestly with reasonably accurate updated timetables
Open and honest with some kind of order of operations (priorities, issues, but no definite timeline)
Just keeping an open line that delays have occurred and more info will follow as the timeline firms up
I just don’t see doing much worse than sticking your head in the sand and refusing to acknowledge that there even is an issue
I don’t get defending having a corporate entity that I’ve got two deposits with essentially collectively leaving us all on read. They’ve had money from many of us for 18+ months and they can’t put together an e-mail or a realistic ETA?
Receiving a further month delay from the last time I got an ETA several months ago wouldn’t even be a big deal…. There’s just a point where this is becoming an insulting f*** you from Lotus.
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Guest142
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I strongly agree with this. It's insulting. It's arrogant and an undo unnecessary insult to not come out and address this timely repeatedly. I have deja vu from writing how we've missed so many production dates now.
I get it, things happen, but it's hard to be this patient and also be in limbo without a word on anything. The fact that it's this quiet is unnerving and giving me different thoughts. Also, the above post is just spot on. Perfect. Well done.
That's what I've been preaching all this time. But people here rather stick to a compa y that doesn't even acknowledge their own failures. Like I said if they are acting like this now, I cannot imagine once you have a warra ty claim in your hands.. Horrible! Just horrible
First negative post from you in 1.5 years on the forums...
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