Proton partner to build Lotus Europa in China
The guys over at China Car Times are super-stoked over news that Proton has inked a deal that will see the Lotus Europa built in China.
According to a China Daily report, Proton is working with its Chinese partner, Jinhua Neoplan Vehicle Co., to produce for Proton the Europa and a four-door sedan based on Proton's Gen-2.
Jinhua Neoplan has until now manufactured buses, but in its new partnership will build as many as 150,000 cars for both the Chinese market and for export. Inside Line even goes so far as to predict future Chinese-built Lotus vehicles being sold in the U.S.
[Sources: China Daily, China Car Times, Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Philip 10:31AM (8/13/2007)
Colin Chapman will be rolling over in his grave.
Lotus + China = SAD.
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Bruce 10:57AM (8/13/2007)
WRONG! Chapman never intended Lotus to be an ultra-expesive car for the elites.
An affordable Lotus could represent the true second coming of Lotus.
Bruce
Graham 10:56AM (8/13/2007)
I don't know about that. Lotus has a long record of making money however it can. 'Handling by Lotus,' Kia Elan... If he's spinning in his grave he probably started 20 years ago.
Rocket Punch 1:54AM (8/14/2007)
It is sad.
To the dude that saids "Chapman never intended Lotus to be an ultra-expesive car for the elites." I am sure Chapman never intended it to be built in China too. By the way have you priced a Caterham Super Seven lately?? I wouldn't call it affordable.
I am a huge fan of Chapman and Lotus, thats why this is sad.
Tsunami Racer 11:10AM (8/13/2007)
There's a side of me that's happy to have picked up a Hethel built Elise, but after living with the British car "quirkiness", i don't think the Chinese can build them any worse.
keep in mind that all your name brand TVs and Computers all come from China now. why not cars that are engineered outside and are merely "assembled" in China.
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Mike I 12:39AM (8/14/2007)
So, since we're getting ripped off by having our other brand name stuff made in China, we might as well get even more ripped off, right?
Flawed logic.
Tsunami Racer 1:53AM (8/14/2007)
who's getting 'ripped off' as you put it? sony is going to china and investing millions of their own capital working with factories to assemble their products. motorola is doing the same thing. mattel is doing the same thing. proton is doing the same thing. no one is putting a gun to their heads saying "build in china". it makes business sense and is a reality of current and future worldwide production.
you sound just like those ignorant fools in the 50's/60's who said the piss-ant island country in the pacific who we just beat the crap out of in WW2 wouldn't amount to anything and could never build quality products.
flawed logic? try no logic...
vectorbug 11:13AM (8/13/2007)
Only time will tell with regards to the quality, but the design is just totally uninspired and boring. Quite a step down from the original.
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TheChaz 11:16AM (8/13/2007)
Cut to grainy youtube footage of Europa folding in half due to substandard components.
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Mike 11:16AM (8/13/2007)
AWESOME! Now maybe I can get a Lotus with MADE IN CHINA stamped on it, built using unsafe/enviromentally-harmful materials and processes, manufactured in a tin-paneled factory thrown together in a jungle clearing by some rice farmers who rode a donkey to work, and get paid $13 USD/day. My Europa will fall apart or fail or be retardedly unsafe...my purchase will help fund a government that represses its people...and I'll be taking money out of the pocket of my European friends....but hey, I got a great price on a new car right?
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gwballin 12:03PM (8/13/2007)
I haven't seen the news in a while so maybe I missed it. Are you required to buy one of these?
I didn't think so.
Evotec 11:25AM (8/13/2007)
no problem when the quality is still good and the price goes down.
But i dont think it will happen:bad quality and still overpriced.
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TDIMeister 12:06PM (8/13/2007)
The destruction of another iconic car marque is nigh...
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