Does Toyota own Lotus?
No, Toyota does not own Lotus. Lotus is a British sports car manufacturer that is currently owned by the Chinese automotive company Geely.
Detailed Explanation
Lotus is a renowned British sports car brand known for its lightweight, high-performance vehicles. The company has a long and storied history, having been founded in 1952 by engineer Colin Chapman. Over the years, Lotus has been owned by various entities, including Proton, a Malaysian automaker, and most recently, Geely, a Chinese automotive conglomerate.
Toyota, on the other hand, is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer that is one of the largest car companies in the world. While Toyota has collaborated with Lotus in the past, such as on the development of the Toyota Supra sports car, the two companies are not currently under the same ownership structure.
Lotus' Ownership History
- 1952 - Lotus founded by Colin Chapman
- 1986 - Lotus acquired by General Motors
- 1993 - Lotus acquired by Proton, a Malaysian automaker
- 2017 - Lotus acquired by Geely, a Chinese automotive company
Geely, which also owns Volvo and other automotive brands, acquired a majority stake in Lotus in 2017, becoming the current owner of the British sports car manufacturer. Toyota, on the other hand, has maintained its independence and has not acquired or owned Lotus at any point in the company's history.
What Lotus has the Toyota engine?
The Evora is equipped with a mid-mounted, transverse, Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre 24-valve 2GR-FE V6 engine. The Evora S uses the same engine but with a supercharger. Both versions are available with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission with "Intelligent Precision Shift," manufactured by Aisin.
Did Elon Musk own Lotus?
Like a real-life Bond villain, Elon Musk bought the actual Lotus Esprit Submarine from The Spy Who Loved Me. The Lotus Esprit played the part of a submarine in the 1977 James Bond film. The billionaire bought it at auction in 2013, setting him back a whopping $900,000 after a bidding war with another car enthusiast.
Is the Lotus Elise a Toyota engine?
The Elise Cup 260 has the following specifications according to Lotus: Engine: 1.8 litre supercharged Toyota 2ZR-FE Inline-4.
Who is the owner of Lotus?
Lotus is currently majority-owned by Chinese multinational Geely.
Who are Lotus owned by?
Lotus Cars is an iconic British producer of sports and racing cars. The first Lotus car was born in 1948 and in June 2017, Lotus Cars became majority owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. The original founder of Lotus, Colin Chapman, believed that lightness was key to the development of great sports cars.
Who supplies Lotus engines?
Esprit Engineering are suppliers of genuine Lotus Engines and Engine Parts and we organise and stock parts that we have had fabricated to replace obsolete Lotus parts.
Why does Lotus use a Toyota engine?
However, seeking a more dependable and powerful option, Lotus made the strategic decision in 2004 to switch to Toyota engines. This shift proved successful for the company, as Toyota engines offered a perfect blend of performance and reliability, complementing Lotus' core principles.
Does Lotus use Toyota parts?
A common perspective shared amongst enthusiasts about modern Lotus vehicles is that while the British-built parts may break often, the Toyota-supplied parts are reliable. This video documenting the problems of a 2013 Evora shows that sometimes even the Toyota parts can cause issues.
Did Toyota ever own Lotus?
The death of Colin Chapman brought some changes for Lotus, resulting in the company being owned internationally. Here's a modern timeline leading to who makes Lotus cars today: 1986 – General Motors and Toyota buy a combined majority share in Group Lotus as co-owners.
Is Lotus made by Toyota?
Before the current group that manufactures the Lotus vehicles, they were made by Proton, which is a company based out of Malaysia. Before that, General Motors and Toyotas were shared owners of the machine. Lotus cars could change ownership in the next decade, but right now they are set with Geely and Etika.
