USA/Canada Delivery Thread

[Next Decade]

If it makes you feel any better, I'm a November 2021 depositor and also have not been asked for additional funds or final order details. My dealer is only willing to tell me I'm in the "mid-20's" of their total order list. Why can they not just tell me the number? Who knows. They at least have told me they'd expect for me to finalize my order in the next 8 months and then add an undetermined build time on top of that which they don't know because they've yet to have an order built. Long story short, I'm guessing I won't see a car until mid-2024 as a November 2021 orderer.

July 12th, 2021 depositor here in the US.

Was told I missed the FE by 2 spots. Still haven’t been contacted for ordering…basically 2 years after deposit.

I even flew to the UK for a factory tour last year; met Windle, the entire executive group, and the CEO of Geely (Daniel Li Donghui).

No respect lol

 

[EspritGuy]

July 12th, 2021 depositor here in the US.

Was told I missed the FE by 2 spots. Still haven’t been contacted for ordering…basically 2 years after deposit.

I even flew to the UK for a factory tour last year; met Windle, the entire executive group, and the CEO of Geely (Daniel Li Donghui).

No respect lol

I recall that they asked for your contact information.. Did you ever hear further from anyone?

 

[4MIR3]

And they’re already delivering Emira V6 to Korea and I read the first customer Electra made delivery last week. Three vehicles, two factories, global demand. The NA market already has more depositors than the entire 10 yr production of the Evora.

South Korea has not started deliveries yet:
”The first Lotus cars will arrive in Q1 2024 and Q3 2024 for Emira and Eletre customers respectively.”

Lotus relaunches in South Korea and reveals new expansion plans in Asia-Pacific region - Lotus Cars Media Site

media.lotuscars.com

 

[Next Decade]

I recall that they asked for your contact information.. Did you ever hear further from anyone?

Nope. All hopes of a publicity stunt are dashed.

It was fun to think about though.

 

[Nova]

I think Lotus will announce when the order books are going to close in each country, rather than tell some depositors afterwards that they won't get a car. I know that's how they are going to do it in the UK. They may not be much notice, maybe only a few weeks. I suspect it will be from late 2023 or early 2024.

Seriously? I thought they are going to go on producing the Emira for quite a few years, why would they close the order books in 2023 or even 2024?

 

[scarzie]

Lawsuit for what? It’s a refundable deposit. Could cancel anytime for 100% refund.

Once an actual order is placed the deposit becomes non refundable, at least that's what it was for me when my spec got entered last May.

There seems to be a lot of optimism here, unfortunately I have none left but here's hoping for the 2.0 folks.

 

[kitkat]

Once an actual order is placed the deposit becomes non refundable, at least that's what it was for me when my spec got entered last May.

There seems to be a lot of optimism here, unfortunately I have none left but here's hoping for the 2.0 folks.

This is state specific -- California the deposit is refundable until actual full purchase and handover of the vehicle.

 

[scarzie]

This is state specific -- California the deposit is refundable until actual full purchase and handover of the vehicle.

Ahhh makes sense

 

[KCMO68_510]

Tom, I agree with the books closing earlier than I predicted. However, if the rumour of allocations being given based on the deposit numbers per dealer in N/A, I can see some dealers taking as many deposits as possible even if they know it won’t get filled. I think we are now heading into this scenario. I’ve talked to a couple people this weekend that have Emira deposits at a Porsche event in Toronto, (both at Gentry) and they told me the list is well over 250. Best guess they had was 30 Emira’s to be delivered to that dealer in 2024 and maybe 40-50 in 2025 and so on.

This would indicate most dealers already have 4 years of production in deposits. Extending the list going forward gives them a good indication and names to call to offer above MSRP cars from “cancelled” orders. (Flippers)

Lotus Cars USA would be smart to close the order books sooner rather than later at this point.

I swear if I wait for 2 years and never get a car because they were just delivering to flippers I'll be really upset.

 

[benjh1028]

Just spoke to sales rep. Said the only update is that the Lotus rep reiterated he is very confident the first U.S cars will be delivered late October. Only other news is that FE 2.0 dealer allocations are imminent.

 

[dgrace]

Assuming late October deliveries for first US FE orders, can we work backwards to determine what would be the drop-dead latest production date? i.e. 6 week transit/customs/dealer-arrival time makes me think the cars would need to leave the UK port sometime around the week of Sep 11-15. 700/3 cars means we're talking about 233 cars to build. 20 cars/day from 2 shifts means 12 production days, which at 4 days/wk means 3 weeks of production. Adding in a week of transport from the factory to the port, I'm guessing that if the cars aren't rolling down the line by Aug 14, they're not going to make October in the US. Anyone have a factory tour scheduled in the back half of August that can look for amber headlights?

 

[JimH]

Assuming late October deliveries for first US FE orders, can we work backwards to determine what would be the drop-dead latest production date? i.e. 6 week transit/customs/dealer-arrival time makes me think the cars would need to leave the UK port sometime around the week of Sep 11-15. 700/3 cars means we're talking about 233 cars to build. 20 cars/day from 2 shifts means 12 production days, which at 4 days/wk means 3 weeks of production. Adding in a week of transport from the factory to the port, I'm guessing that if the cars aren't rolling down the line by Aug 14, they're not going to make October in the US. Anyone have a factory tour scheduled in the back half of August that can look for amber headlights?

That assumes that 100% of production capacity will be allocated to US V6 FE's, and we already know it almost certainly won't be as UK and Europe i4's start in July and through the rest of calendar Q4 and onwards too (the production line can cope with mixed builds)......

 

[TomE]

This has all been a nerve-wracking grand guessing game, as those in the know aren't talking.
What does that perspective mean for the Base Edition, said to be announced mid 2024?

I'm expecting Base Edition info will be announced earlier than that, probably in the next month (at least for the UK) - before or at Goodwood Festival of Speed. My hunch is the last date for placing UK FE deposits will be announced at the same time.

The first UK Base Edition deliveries are from Q1 2024 so they need to get options, pricing and configurator up so people can choose and be locked into production by mid/late Q3 2023.

 

[TomE]

Seriously? I thought they are going to go on producing the Emira for quite a few years, why would they close the order books in 2023 or even 2024?

If they've got orders for 3-4 years of production then that takes them to 2027/28 and the introduction of the Type 135 EV sportscar into Hethel production.

 

[KCMO68_510]

If they've got orders for 3-4 years of production then that takes them to 2027/28 and the introduction of the Type 135 EV sportscar into Hethel production.

I assume by "orders" you mean deposits, right? Because my understanding is that dealers have only "ordered" the FEv1.0 cars to this point, right?

 

[EspritGuy]

Just spoke to sales rep. Said the only update is that the Lotus rep reiterated he is very confident the first U.S cars will be delivered late October. Only other news is that FE 2.0 dealer allocations are imminent.

That is encouraging for a portion of our mates, but would involve US certification to be completed/granted. Wasn't that timeline late October-early December? Fingers were crossed no changes are required .
Elsewhere,, other posts mentioned late May that Lotus audits of Dealer deposits were underway, as a precursor to FE 2.0 apportionment of the 600 NA increment.
Oh the ebb and flow of hopes and dreams.

 

[TomE]

I assume by "orders" you mean deposits, right? Because my understanding is that dealers have only "ordered" the FEv1.0 cars to this point, right?

Sorry, yes - deposits for 3-4 years

 

[VL3X]

That is encouraging for a portion of our mates, but would involve US certification to be completed/granted.

Exactly this. One can estimate build and delivery time, but who knows how long the certification process will take. And if these last couple years have taught me anything, I must assume the certification won't go smoothly and Lotus will be required to tweak some things.

I'm 92% confident that zero US customer cars will actually be delivered until 2024 now.

 

[EspritGuy]

I'm expecting Base Edition info will be announced earlier than that, probably in the next month (at least for the UK) - before or at Goodwood Festival of Speed. My hunch is the last date for placing UK FE deposits will be announced at the same time.

The first UK Base Edition deliveries are from Q1 2024 so they need to get options, pricing and configurator up so people can choose and be locked into production by mid/late Q3 2023.

Base Edition news there of any type in the next month,
Including configurator, will help sooth my distress at again missing the NA FE 2.0 cut.
Then I can guesstimate my unbundled Base cost savings and further aging in looking at delivery perhaps in 4Q 2024.
#WaitingMoreandEnjoyingitLess

 

[Silver Storm]

I think Lotus will announce when the order books are going to close in each country, rather than tell some depositors afterwards that they won't get a car. I know that's how they are going to do it in the UK. They may not be much notice, maybe only a few weeks. I suspect it will be from late 2023 or early 2024.

When I went for my test drive, the Lotus rep said they would close deposits/wait list in summer of 2024 (at the latest I believe). So definitely possible close late 2023.