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Trevor från SELOC har publicerat följande mötesnoteringar:
Trevor Jordan, SELOC wrote:Web meeting with Lotus Senior Management.
Here are some off the points raised in today’s meeting, although the new car was mentioned only tiny bits were divulged.
Attendees from Lotus
Phil Popham, Lotus Cars CEO
James Andrew, Executive Director – Communications & PR
Simon Clare, Executive Director – Marketing
Geoff Dowding, Executive Director – Sales & Aftersales
Matt Windle, Executive Director – Engineering
David McIntyre, Regional Director – APAC & China
Graeme Robertson, Head of Sales – Europe
Ryan Watson, President – Lotus Cars USA
Alastair Florance, Group PR Manager
Clubs from around the world
Dubai - Naim Khayyat
France - Club Lotus France – Serge Audigier
Germany - Lotus Club Deutschland – Nguyen-Dien Nguyen
Hong Kong - Hong Kong Lotus Registry – Dominic Yip
Italy - Club Lotus Italia – Paolo Zannelli
Switzerland - Swiss Lotus Team – Ron Amacher
UK - Club Lotus – Alan Morgan
UK - SELOC – Trevor Jordan
UK - The Lotus Forums – Bibs (Andy Betts)
USA - Lotus Ltd – Brian Vaccaro
James Andrew PR Director Introduced the meeting detailing the number of attendees and a General Introduction to the Lotus leadership team.
He then handed over to Phil Popham CEO
We were given a broader outline of Lotus detailing things like Coronavirus and how the pandemic was expected after having spoken to the owners in China. A business plan was drawn up and off-site working was put in place immediately after the lockdown was issues by the UK Government.
In readiness for the lockdown £400K was spent on upgrading users PCs from Windows XP to Windows 365. This has allowed the Engineering and Development teams to continue working.
They are hoping to restart at the factory albeit in a limited form on 11/5/20 again taking Government advice. But they are hoping to commence Production at that point in time.
Vision 80 was mentioned, this is where Lotus Cars want to between now and 10 years.
750 staff are currently Furloughed. But the factory are currently making PPE and the Engineering team designed a new valve for breathing apparatus.
Profit targets have been met with the sale of Evora’s rising 50% The main sales being Japan, UK, USA/France, Europe
New Car releasing in 2021, this is being built in the NEW Building onsite in Hethel. It will also incorporate Robotic Automation although little more was said on that subject.
Geoff Dowding Exec Director Sales
Currently worldwide there are 158 dealerships and Lotus would like to increase this in line with Vision 80 Their main target being the USA.
Geely have invested Alot more in funds than has been published in the Press, there actual words were “They were conservative’ I cant remember the figure mentioned.
Questions were then asked by the clubs, this was done from rising sun to avoid anyone club been seen to be bigger than another.
Hong Kong - Tech Centre 20/20 software can that be released to the general public.
Response - NO Kept in the Franchise and Server Centres globally, also training is provided for these entireties.
Singapore - Source parts for older model cars, was difficult inn their region
Response - Lotus appreciate that sourcing parts can be difficult they have approx 17,500 in stock, but explained that some manufacturers no longer exist and that they have shared plans and diagrams with other manufactures to get items made for future requirements. Where they can they will help.
Dubai - Explained that sales of Exige’s was higher than the Evora, so they wanted to know the replacement
Response - Matt Windle Exec Director Engineering. The new model will be an internal combustion engine, Mid-engined and using the Evija as the base design. THEY WEREN”T PREPARED TO GO FURTHER on that subject.
Germany - How many Evija’s have been ordered
Response - They are happy with the numbers, but weren’t willing to share the bottom line, but they were sold in The East (China), Middle East & USA basically where the model has been displayed.
Switzerland - Club relationship with Lotus Cars want more official links.
Response - They want to introduce driving events and 2-3 day events with their name associated to these.
Italy - Engine Futures what supplier
Response - They will be of the right pedigree again wouldn’t give a answer due to commercial reasons. But we were told not to worry.
UK - Will new cars hold Lotus DNA Retention
Response - Ride and Handling will be, challenging work on lightness rather than power train. They referred to the Mission Statement “For The Driver”
Overall this was a very positive meeting and was certainly worth while. Although we weren't given full details of the new car we were told that we’d get an opportunity to drive it once it’s done the press rounds.
I hope you find this information useful, no details have been withheld at the request of Lotus Cars.
Trevor