Lotus Sports Cars Abandons Aggressive All-Electric Strategy

[Strategic Shift] Lotus officially abandons its goal of making its entire lineup fully electric by 2027, pivoting instead to a three-pronged approach encompassing internal combustion engines (ICE), hybrids, and battery-electric vehicles.

Strategic Rationale: Sales and Financial Pressures Drive Course Correction

Facing market realities, Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng admitted, “No one internally still insists on going all-electric.” The company has scrapped its 2018 Vision 80 strategy, no longer treating the Emira as its final ICE model, and plans to unveil the Emira 420 within weeks.

Key Metrics: 2025 Sales Projected at Only 6,000 Units, Far Below Target

After its acquisition by Geely, Lotus had bet heavily on three premium EVs—the Evija, Eletre, and Emeya—to spearhead its electrification push. However, global sales in 2025 are expected to reach only around 6,000 units, falling significantly short of expectations.

Core Development: V8 Hybrid Supercar Type 135 Slated for 2028

The originally planned all-electric supercar Type 135 has been reconfigured with a V8 hybrid powertrain. It will become Lotus’s first V8-powered vehicle since the Esprit ceased production in 2004, signaling the brand’s return to a diversified powertrain strategy.