Q&A JEAN-MARC GALES, LOTUS CEO

What will Lotus’s role be in the Geely group?

“We’re Lotus and we’re about handling, lightweight and aero, where nothing can beat us. Lotus is like nothing else in the world. Our cars don’t have the most power, but it’s the feeling, the way it drives and handles.”

What can Geely bring to Lotus?

“Our last owners were very good and saw us through 20 years. Now we have clear targets and are owned by an automotive specialist. I don’t think anything better could have happened to us.”

Will you increase engineering activities?

“I’m sure we will get huge support in engineering. We’re going to increase the engineering team here, we’ll be hiring more people, and fast. The amount of work over the next three years will be massive. We’ve shown what we can do on limited budgets – imagine what we can do with a shareholder that wants to invest in an iconic brand.”

Will you source parts from within the Geely group?

“We’ll be part of a big family, so why wouldn’t we? There are bound to be synergies; we need to keep the identity of the brand. Using parts of other brands, the option is there, but we need to keep our identity. Lotus’s identity is light weight, aerodynamics and handling.”

Can you fulfil that identity with an SUV?

“Absolutely. I’m sure many other growing segments can fit the Lotus criteria.”

Are you making a profit?

“Yes, and we can accelerate that. The average revenue per car is going up, so we’ll sell the same 1500 cars this year as last, but each car is selling for more money. It allows for better profits, as customers want a more exclusive car.”