In what has transformed into an ongoing drama, Lotus' new parent company says it has no plans to sell the Hethel-based sports car maker. DRB-HICOM's backing of Lotus comes just weeks after a member of the UK Parliament reported the division
was up for sale.
In a recent visit to Lotus' headquarters in Hethel, DRB-HICOM managing director Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Khamil Bin Jamil was quoted by
Autocar as saying that DRB-HICOM, the new owner of Lotus parent Protron, "is not thinking about a sale." However, Dato' Jamil left himself an out by adding that he could "never say never" about a sale.
Production at Lotus has
resumed after a short shutdown - Malaysian law requires a 60-day financial stringency period following a sale - but it remains unknown if DRB-HICOM's financial backing goes beyond day-to-day activities. Prior to Proton's sale Lotus was developing several new models, including an Esprit supercar that was due to launch next year.
DRB-HICOM's review of Lotus is expected to take several months, so it will be a while before the situation is fully resolved.
