USA/Canada Delivery Thread

[DerTheDer]

No price increase for FE in US, nor can I imagine a justification for one considering the exchange rate.

Post-FE, sure. But our existing FE confirmed-price queue orders should 100% be honored. If they are not, I'll be right beside you with a pitchfork. I have the order in writing with detailed spec and price, with my name, address, and confirmed order number on it.

Half the other folks are not honored as far as pricing, I see US as no different. The fact they are having a big meeting in March means they will discuss this.

 

[Lotustoronto]

I can imagine the dealer meeting going as follows

Lotus HQ "So if we raise prices, do you think the pissed off customers that want a refund can be replaced by the people waiting, I mean we keep telling them its a 2 year wait."

Dealers "Well, this is really going to hurt some of our customers that have been with us for two/three years, you guys think its a good idea?"

Lotus HQ " Ya, we don't have a choice, so get ready to get some angry cancellations, but some people at the back of line will be happy to get bumped up!"

Dealer "Ummmm ya I guess so"

I can't imagine them doing this over a zoom call that could be recorded.

 

[kitkat]

I can imagine the dealer meeting going as follows

Lotus HQ "So if we raise prices, do you think the pissed off customers that want a refund can be replaced by the people waiting, I mean we keep telling them its a 2 year wait."

Dealers "Well, this is really going to hurt some of our customers that have been with us for two/three years, you guys think its a good idea?"

Lotus HQ " Ya, we don't have a choice, so get ready to get some angry cancellations, but some people at the back of line will be happy to get bumped up!"

Dealer "Ummmm ya I guess so"

I can't imagine them doing this over a zoom call that could be recorded.

My gut feeling says that's exactly how it's going to go down and not a single US car will be honored at the original MSRP. Those of us in search of a reasonably priced modern sports car will balk and cancel, some of us will eat the price difference as it's probably around $150/month more financed over 5 years.

Nobody will be happy.

I'd _love_ to be wrong, but deep down inside I think we all know I'm not.

 

[dgrace]

Well the other option is Lotus USA says "we're going to raise prices, but you dealers have the option to eat the increase and not pass it along to your customers"

Dealers:

 

[MIGZ]

No price increase for FE in US, nor can I imagine a justification for one considering the exchange rate.

Post-FE, sure. But our existing FE confirmed-price queue orders should 100% be honored. If they are not, I'll be right beside you with a pitchfork. I have the order in writing with detailed spec and price, with my name, address, and confirmed order number on it.

Honestly I wonder what could be done in the event there is a price hike. One difference in the UK if I understand correctly everyone is buying from "LOTUS" we are buying from the dealer.

I the US and with our court systems I'm sure someone could stir up enough noise to keep the pricing. Their is essentially a contract in place for some of the FE folks.

 

[GetawayDriving]

Spoke with my dealer today. He said he doesn't know what's going on with Lotus or this apparent dealer meeting they were supposed to have. Now they're telling him they need to go to Cali for some update meeting in March. How hard is it to set up a Zoom call? I've been in 6 virtual meetings today.. 2 of which weren't even on my calendar.

Serious question for those who've ordered new cars before.. Was the experience anything like this? My family has worked in the car biz for decades... Mom with Porsche, Audi, and MB, and my pop with Lexus for 20+ years. I've never EVER seen dealers struggle like this with their brand HQ to properly communicate updates with paying customers. This is insane.

It's hard to compare to just ordering a car, more like ordering a totally new model that's not out yet. I do have experience with that.

Tesla (model 3): Waited 2 years exactly (to the day) with 0 communication until a week prior to delivery. Community picked up the slack, tracking VINs and one guy even drove his Model 3 across the country to offer people in each city test drives for $50/pop. Lotus doing their roadshow is more than Tesla ever did.

Jeep 4XE, ordered and waited 6 weeks. Jeep actually arrived ahead of schedule. No communication from Jeep but dealer was good, and community built a VIN status tracking tool that could let you know when it hit the production line. Upon delivery, dealer salesman and finance manager both said they had ordered theirs 8 months prior with no update, and had no idea when they were shipping, why they weren't shipping, or why I got mine earlier then they did. They speculated color maybe. Meanwhile forums were filled with broken jeeps.

Rivian: Placed reservation June last year, have received periodic company updates but 0 info about when I might be invited to configure.

Tesla (Cybertruck): for 3 years

 

[MPD]

I can imagine the dealer meeting going as follows

Lotus HQ "So if we raise prices, do you think the pissed off customers that want a refund can be replaced by the people waiting, I mean we keep telling them its a 2 year wait."

Dealers "Well, this is really going to hurt some of our customers that have been with us for two/three years, you guys think its a good idea?"

Lotus HQ " Ya, we don't have a choice, so get ready to get some angry cancellations, but some people at the back of line will be happy to get bumped up!"

Dealer "Ummmm ya I guess so"

I can't imagine them doing this over a zoom call that could be recorded.

No kidding, no way over zoom :-0 Someone let me know where/when as I travel to Cali frequently and happy to infiltrate as a waiter and place a well hidden mic

 

[kitkat]

Just got another update from another rep at my Lotus dealer that first deliveries in the US will be in August and not June or July. They also didn't reply to my question about price increases.

 

[Guest142]

Just got another update from another rep at my Lotus dealer that first deliveries in the US will be in August and not June or July. They also didn't reply to my question about price increases.

How much is the current price increase in U.S. dollars?

 

[kitkat]

How much is the current price increase in U.S. dollars?

That's unknown as it hasn't been announced yet -- UK folks are seeing 8% I think?

 

[Porter]

If they do try to retroactively force a price increase on a car puchase that many of us have in writing, a few hundred independently filed small claims court suits would put an end to that VERY quickly.

At minimum, the burden of defending themselves in 100 different jurisdictions against small claims suits would WAY more than offset the difference in price of the car, and the cost of representation alone in those jurisdictions would get their attention in a very big way.

I'm fully prepared to code and launch a website specifically to organize US Lotus customers into mass action through state level court systems if they try to pull any sort of "fuck the customer" retroactive price hike hijinx here. The change in exchange rate over time is a matter of public record... a convenient graph with the impact on profit would be a nice exhibit to submit to any judge.

 

[KAR120C]

If they do try to retroactively force a price increase on a car puchase that many of us have in writing, a few hundred independently filed small claims court suits would put an end to that VERY quickly.

At minimum, the burden of defending themselves in 100 different jurisdictions against small claims suits would WAY more than offset the difference in price of the car, and the cost of representation alone in those jurisdictions would get their attention in a very big way.

I'm fully prepared to code and launch a website specifically to organize US Lotus customers into mass action through state level court systems if they try to pull any sort of "fuck the customer" retroactive price hike hijinx here. The change in exchange rate over time is a matter of public record... a convenient graph with the impact on profit would be a nice exhibit to submit to any judge.

I don't think that would even be necessary. Our written contracts specify our spec and the MSRP price. Non-delivery of the spec or the price constitutes Lotus breaking the contract. Then it's really just basic contract law. They can either sell you the car with the agreed terms, or fully refund your money. Just hold onto your approval email from Lotus.

Still this is all speculation. I can't believe Lotus USA will step into that messy pile of poo and will continue to honor the price.

 

[Guest142]

That's unknown as it hasn't been announced yet -- UK folks are seeing 8% I think?

If they do try to retroactively force a price increase on a car puchase that many of us have in writing, a few hundred independently filed small claims court suits would put an end to that VERY quickly.

At minimum, the burden of defending themselves in 100 different jurisdictions against small claims suits would WAY more than offset the difference in price of the car, and the cost of representation alone in those jurisdictions would get their attention in a very big way.

I'm fully prepared to code and launch a website specifically to organize US Lotus customers into mass action through state level court systems if they try to pull any sort of "fuck the customer" retroactive price hike hijinx here. The change in exchange rate over time is a matter of public record... a convenient graph with the impact on profit would be a nice exhibit to submit to any judge.

I spoke with my dealer directly and was told there is no U.S. price increase. The communication that went out was meant for UK buyers only. At this time there is no U.S. price increase, nor will there be.

 

[KAR120C]

I spoke with my dealer directly and was told there is no U.S. price increase. The communication that went out was meant for UK buyers only. At this time there is no U.S. price increase, nor will there be.

Yeah, I spoke to them again this morning on another topic, but they reaffirmed that Lotus USA told them no increase on US FE's.

 

[VL3X]

I can't believe Lotus USA will step into that messy pile of poo and will continue to honor the price.

Because Lotus of US has been so transparent and helpful thus far?

Getting our deposit money back is the absolute minimum I'd expect from them, even without a lawsuit. There is more to be compensated for as far as I'm concerned.

 

[KAR120C]

Because Lotus of US has been so transparent and helpful thus far?

Getting our deposit money back is the absolute minimum I'd expect from them, even without a lawsuit. There is more to be compensated for as far as I'm concerned.

No, more like "even a blind pig sniffs out an acorn now and again". And voiding 700 contracts is a pretty big acorn.

 

[morphious]

Would be hard it seems for them to change the price as the Model Variant on the order states Emira V6 First Edition - $93,900 not suggested or MSRP.

 

[KAR120C]

Would be hard it seems for them to change the price as the Model Variant on the order states Emira V6 First Edition - $93,900 not suggested or MSRP.

Mine says Emira V6 First Edition - $93,900. And MSRP $93,900 at the bottom of the order. Doubly clear!!

 

[Davebeats]

Only time will tell, if there is a price increase I'll probably drop off. Curious to see how much of a hassle getting my "non refundable deposit" back will be though

 

[JSUNLAND]

First post... been following since 2021.
Deposit for a V6 FE was Feb 1, 2022 in Dallas TX, was # 110 at that time, currently as of Feb 1, 2023 1 year later I am #68 in line.
Based on Black Pack and Alcantara wheel option costs...
After fees and Texas taxes puts it around $103K+
($103,000 US converted to Pound is $85,625)
(California Tax would put it about $104K+ or $86,425)
So based on the EU price increase including VAT and including Black Pack and Alcantara wheel will be about $83,595 I really hope they don't increase the US price point.