The iconic British sports car manufacturer, Lotus, has announced its plans to exclusively produce electric vehicles starting from the end of 2028. This move marks a significant shift for the company, which has gained a reputation for its high-performance petrol-powered sports cars. The Lotus Emira, the last road-legal Lotus with petrol power, is expected to be discontinued within the next five years.
Lotus aims to be “fully electrified” by 2028, coinciding with the company’s 80th anniversary. This means that all the products they manage after this timeframe will be electric. While Lotus has not explicitly mentioned hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicles in their plans, they have made it clear that all new models introduced after the Emira will be solely electric.
Lotus has already unveiled their first all-electric sedan, the Emeya, which is designed to compete with the Porsche Taycan. This four-door electric sedan is the company’s third electric vehicle after the limited-run Evija hypercar and the mass-production Eletre large SUV. Lotus also has plans to release a mid-size SUV under the Type 134 codename next year and a sports car codenamed Type 135 in 2026.
Even though Lotus is transitioning to electric vehicles, they have suggested that petrol and electric cars may be sold side by side for a period of up to two years. This means that the Emira and the upcoming Type 135 sports car might coexist initially.
Lotus has set an ambitious global sales target of 150,000 cars per year by 2028. While this pales in comparison to Porsche’s 2022 deliveries of around 310,000 cars, it represents significant growth for Lotus, which reported approximately 1,500 cars sold globally in 2021.
In conclusion, Lotus is preparing to bid farewell to petrol-powered sports cars and embrace a fully electric future. With their planned lineup of electric vehicles, the company aims to maintain its reputation for high-performance and continue to innovate in the world of electric sports cars.
Source: Drive, CarAdvice