In what could be the first official sign that Lotus might soon be making its way across auction block, Lotus CEO Dany Bahar has confirmed that the Lotus-parent Proton is at least considering the sale of the niche sports car maker.
Rumors of a possible Lotus sale sprang up late last month, but both Lotus and Proton kept quiet about the matter. However, Bahar recently commented on the subject, revealing that at least a partial sale of Lotus could be in the cards.
“There are three clear options,†Bahar said. “Proton could keep Lotus, float it off or sell it outright. It would be quite understandable if an owner that has invested so much wanted to see a return on its investment, especially if the buyer were a major car maker that could back Lotus for the long term.â€
Proton’s top management group recently visited Lotus’ operations, but Bahar say the trip was “routine, with no surprisesâ€.
Lotus sold about 2,000 cars in 2010, but it’s estimated the company would need to achieve a sales level of about 8,000 units to turn a profit. Proton – which bought Lotus in 1996 – has never earned a profit from the sports car maker.
References
1.’Proton could sell…’ view
