This prestigious award comes just a week after Lotus announced a £2 million profit for the last financial year, citing the growth of Lotus as a world leading high technology, ecological automotive engineering consultancy and the unveiling of the visually stunning Lotus Evora, the first new Lotus for 13 years, as amongst the key reasons for the accolade. Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer was delighted to receive the award on behalf of Group Lotus Plc, “It is an honour for me to be presented with this award, recognising the hard work of all our tremendously loyal and dedicated global staff over the last two years to execute the turnaround in the business fortunes of Lotus. Our ‘can do’ attitude has ensured the continued growth of Lotus into a much stronger and stable position consolidating our reputation as a global premium advanced automotive company”.
Chas Hallett Autocar editor explained further why Lotus won the Editor’s Special Award for Excellence, “The resilience of Lotus and its gathering engineering strength, culminating in the launch of the exciting new Evora, are the key reasons why it wins this year’s Excellence award.”
Mike Kimberley returned to Lotus in 2005 as a non-Executive Director, before being appointed Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus plc in 2006. Over the last 12 months Lotus Engineering, the company’s high technology engineering consultancy business, grew its global third party customer base and was awarded with new and valuable contracts worldwide – 340 projects with over 140 clients. Customer demand has lead to the creation of new departments within Engineering, especially focused on biofuels, electric and hybrid electric vehicles. The Lotus Evora, the first all new Lotus in 13 years is a 2+2 mid-engine V6 sportscar and first deliveries to customers are expected to commence in Spring 2009. The Lotus Evora will join the already successful stable of Elise, Exige, Europa and 2-Eleven high performance sportscars.
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About Lotus
The main operating subsidiary of Group Lotus plc is Lotus Cars Ltd, which has two operating divisions - Lotus Engineering and Lotus Cars. Lotus Engineering is an internationally recognised automotive engineering consultancy based in Norfolk, UK. Global facilities include those in Michigan (USA), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), China and offices in Germany and Japan.
Lotus Engineering provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy services to many of the world's OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, offering a full engineering service from initial concept and project design through development and integration of the complete vehicle to meet all worldwide markets and customers to full production. This includes third party 'niche vehicle' engineering and manufacture.
Lotus Cars builds world class, prestige, high performance sports cars for sale in 37 countries. These include the iconic Lotus Elise, and the Exige and Europa. Lotus’ latest model, the Lotus Evora, goes on sale from Spring 2009. Lotus is a global high-tech company, expanding rapidly and committed to driving forward technology for both Lotus Cars and its Engineering clients, spearheading research into such areas as hybrids, electric vehicles and renewable fuels.
For more information about Lotus please contact:
PR Department; Group Lotus plc,
Potash Lane, Hethel, Norfolk, UK, NR14 8EZ
Tel: +44(0)1953 608264;
Email: pr@lotuscars.co.uk