[CCF mod]

The China Daily reports that Jinhua Neoplan, an affiliate of Zhejiang-based automaker Jinhua Youngman, expects to build up to 150,000 cars a year at its plant in Jinan. Among the cars it plans to assemble is the Lotus Europa, from knocked-down kits.

Lotus last year said it had an engineering contract with Jinhua Youngman to develop a four-door sedan for the Chinese market. That vehicle is a version of the Proton Gen 2, which will be rebadged as the Europestar in China. Lotus, which is owned by Proton, collaborated on a hybrid gas-electric version of the Gen 2 sedan.

Jinhua also has partnered previously with Iran Khodro on minicar production.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=122140

 

[Mega]

Ho Ho Ho
I wonder what China will make of CRAP LOtus cars?.........Proton not much better!

I can't wait to rip Lotus on this!
Mega

 

[CCF mod]

No made-in-China-Lotus-cars. The company denied the rumours.

“The company does not normally respond to individual articles in the media, but occasionally we feel it necessary to comment directly to set the record straight about specific rumors that could affect staff morale or performance. There has been comment in the Chinese press that two Lotus sports cars will be put into production in China by the end of the year. This is not true. Staff has been briefed by [chairman] Mike Kimberley on plans for the company for the next five years. Those plans do not feature the manufacture of Lotus cars anywhere other than at Hethel. In future please treat such press comments with the scepticism (sic) they deserve,” said a Lotus representative in an email.

 

[Windy]

I can't wait to rip Lotus on this!
Mega

I guess you wont get your chance then!

 

[kilessoni]

I guess you wont get your chance then!

 

[fightingtorque]

Ho Ho Ho
I wonder what China will make of CRAP LOtus cars?.........Proton not much better!

I can't wait to rip Lotus on this!
Mega

eh?

I've owned two Lotus cars. They have their issues and if anyone ever asks if I recommend them, I have to say that it depends what you want, and you need to understand some things about living with them. Having said that, I expect the newer ones are much better, they learned a lot through the collaboratio with GM in building the VX220, and employ these quality approaches in all cars since (elise, exige, europa, etc. whereas my experience is with Esprits).

Whatever, I don't think you could call them crap, without defining what you mean by crap.

 

[mgrovernut]

Yes Mega's lot the plot on this one. The new Lotus Esprit will make him sound even dafter and it will give even Porsche a few sleepless nights. It's very cool.