Vince Cable meets Lotus’ new owners in London

Business Secretary Vince Cable has met with the new Malaysian owners of Group Lotus during a three-day visit to the UK by the new management team.

Cable met with the DRB-HICOM delegation at the new Lotus Originals store on London’s Regent Street, along with the Malaysia High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

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The visit has been planned to both allow DRB-HICOM to gain a better understanding of the Lotus business and, more importantly, pledge its support to the famous British sports car maker following several months of upheaval.

Apparently, said Lotus, senor staff were “reassured regarding DRB-HICOM’s support for Group Lotus going forward”.

Dato’ Sri Hj Mohd Khamil Jamil, group MD of DRB-HICOM & executive chairman of Proton, said: “Group Lotus has some of the most technically gifted and talented members of the automotive industry and we are determined that they will be given the opportunity to flourish under the new management.

“DRB-HICOM has invested new funds and it is our job to make sure that investment is used in a way that can drive the company forward.

“We are working on a number of new developments and are confident of the company’s bright future as we continue to leverage on our engineering excellence and innovation culture.”

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The meeting with Cable was thus very well timed and a strong sign of governmental support for a brand that’s had a catalogue of recent dramas including the dismissal of its high-profile chief executive Dany Bahar.

Cable seemed encouraged: “Lotus is an important part of the UK’s automotive sector, and I particularly welcome DRB-HICOM’S continued commitment to the future of Lotus in Norfolk.”

“I’m pleased to have been invited to meet with DRB-HICOM on what is a milestone day for Lotus.

Dato’ Sri Hj Mohd Khamil Jamil was suitably impressed: “Meeting with Dr Cable and hearing about his continued support for this great British brand was very heartening.”

The delegation also spent two days at Hethel during its visit, where it had a full tour of the production line, design studio and engineering facilities. The tour also included a session on the Lotus test track in all the latest product – and if that’s not enough to convince the new bosses of Lotus’ true worth, we don’t know what is…