Just want to make sure I understand you correctly...
So in the past week we've received a dozen or so updates from forum members and dealers saying that they would expect to physically receive the Emiras that are starting to arrive in North Americal, and that they will physically store them at their dealerships, until such time as CARB certification passes, after which point they can then be sold to customers.
Here is one such update from the most reliable horse's mouth to date,
@GatorMotorsport:
And so my question to you
@rotate is: you're saying the part in bold above is no longer happening? And if so, as of what date did this change?
I have been following this thread religiously, indeed this new information seems to be a total 180.
Take it with a grain of salt, but this is coming right from the dealer who is as infuriated with Lotus as many of us are and has been updating me as he gets new info.
I was there last weekend and they were still under the impression that as soon as the cars were processed at Baltimore, they'd be shipped out and the dealers would have to find appropriate storage for what we know will inevitably be longer than January. They were scrambling to find warehouse space (in the NYC metro area, no easy or cheap feat). I asked them if Lotus would be footing the bill and they told me one battle at a time.
Yesterday, I texted my SA over there and asked if they'd gotten my VIN, as he was told on the dealer call like everyone else they'd be getting them but since then crickets. Thats when he explained the update I shared (in summation):
-Non-carb states got shipped first even though...
-all cars, carb or not, will now be kept at the docs until they're certified
-VINs for those of us on the other ships should be available in a week or two
-They believe we'll be on the road in 30-60 days...........
Given that this likely came from a Lotus U.S. rep this may all be categorically incorrect, completely accurate, or anything in between. That all being said, having been in the industry, this sounds like a more reasonable course of events. I don't know if Lotus has indoor storage in Baltimore or can/will rent some. I do know that other exotic brands (Lamborghini/Ferrari, etc) get driven off the ship to an indoor facility before being individually transported.