Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds MP, meets Lotus after reports of plans to shut Norfolk factory
The Business Secretary is holding talks with Lotus after the sportscar maker appeared to shelve it's plans to shut UK operations.
After reports that Chinese owner Geely was planning to stop manufacturing at the Hethel plant in Norfolk, putting 1,300 jobs at risk, Lotus issued a statement saying it had 'no plans' to close the factory.
Jonathan Reynolds MP is speaking to the company on Sunday, alongside local MP, Ben Goldsborough.
The British sportscar brand has been majority-owned by Chinese multinational Geely since 2017.
The Financial Times had reported it was considering shutting up shop in the UK and in favour of a new plant in the US.
On Saturday, Lotus sought to assuage concerns with a statement that it remains 'committed' to the UK, which it called its largest commercial market in Europe and the 'heart' of the brand.
'Lotus Cars is continuing normal operations, and there are no plans to close the factory,' it said.
'We are actively exploring strategic options to enhance efficiency and ensure global competitiveness in the evolving market.
'We have invested significantly in R&D and operations in the UK, over the past six years. Lotus remains committed to the UK, and its customers, employees, dealers, suppliers, as well as its proud British heritage.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Lando Norris eager for British Grand Prix after closing title gap to 15 points
Norris will head to his home race at Silverstone in a week's time a driver reborn after he came out on top of his thrilling wheel-to-wheel duel with McLaren team-mate Piastri in the Styrian mountains. After claiming the third win of his stop-start campaign, the Englishman has reduced the title deficit to Piastri to 15 points from 22. Max Verstappen is now 61 points off the title pace after he was taken out on the opening lap by Mercedes' teenager Kimi Antonelli. A crowd touching 150,000 is expected at Silverstone next weekend, while Norris will also have a dedicated area for his fans, the Landostand, at Stowe corner. But Norris said: 'For me, it is not more pressure. Of course, it is the place I want to win more than anywhere else. It puts a smile on my face when I wake up there every day, and it distracts me in a good way. 'There is pressure in every race and I cannot put myself under any more pressure than I do. So, it is something to look forward to, to enjoy every lap, enjoy the experience, and to have so many of my fans in my own grandstand cheering me on. Lando Norris has reduced the title lead to 15 points (Darko Bandic/AP) 'I am very excited. I would want it to come now. But I need a good sleep first.' Norris' championship hopes were in tatters after the Canadian Grand Prix a fortnight ago following a collision with Piastri which the British driver said made him look like a fool. But Norris put his McLaren on pole by more than half-a-second here, and did not crumble under the pressure from Piastri amid their breathless ding-dong battle. 'It is certainly fulfilling for me and it gives me good confidence,' continued Norris, 25. 'I don't need to prove anything to anyone, only to me. It has been a good clean weekend. I have performed exactly as I wanted to do and needed to. 'But it doesn't come easily. I have not just turned up and things are better. I am working and doing a lot more away from the track than I used to with the team, on the simulator, and my own team in trying to improve everything I can. It is positive to see that paying off immediately. And it is a good step in the right direction. But I still want more and still need more so we will keep working.' Norris and Piastri traded places on lap 11 as they fought for the lead before the latter came within centimetres of crashing into his team-mate nine laps later when his lunge at turn four almost backfired. Norris held of the attention of Piastri (Darko Bandic/AP) A warning to the Australian arrived from the McLaren pit-wall. Piastri subsequently apologised over the radio for the close shave. 'It was stressful for sure, and not the most comfortable position to be in,' admitted Norris. 'There were a lot of laps where I was looking in my mirrors. We both want to race hard and fair and it goes both ways. We have to put Montreal behind us and behind me for sure. It is something I wish didn't happen but it was nice we could push to the limit here. There were some close moments but nothing that would make (team principal) Andrea (Stella) or the pit wall sweat too much.'
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Lando Norris triumphs in Austria to cut Oscar Piastri's advantage in title race
Norris kept his nerve in a thrilling duel with Oscar Piastri to take his third triumph of the season, reducing the title deficit to his team-mate to 15 points from 22. A fortnight after Norris ran into the back of Piastri in Canada, the two McLaren men came within centimetres of another collision on lap 20 of 70. LANDO NORRIS WINS THE AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX! — McLaren (@McLarenF1) June 29, 2025 Piastri momentarily lost control of his car as he attempted a lunge at turn four, before he was warned not to attempt a similar move – a clear sign McLaren had called off the fight. Norris took the chequered flag 2.7 seconds clear of Piastri, with Charles Leclerc finishing third. Lewis Hamilton was fourth with the seven-time world champion's wait for a first podium in Ferrari colours extending to his home race at Silverstone next weekend. Max Verstappen's race lasted three corners after he was taken out by Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli. The first-lap retirement leaves him 61 points off the championship pace. George Russell took fifth for Mercedes. Norris departed Montreal with his championship hopes hanging in the balance after a collision with Piastri which the British driver said made him look like a fool. But Norris has been a driver reborn here in the Styrian mountains, securing an emphatic pole position before holding off Piastri with a statement victory. Respect between these two after an unfortunate collision on Lap 1 in Austria 🤝#F1 || #AustrianGP 🇦🇹 — Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) June 29, 2025 Norris nailed his getaway to keep Leclerc behind on the run 200-metre charge to turn one with Piastri then launching his McLaren around the outside of the Ferrari and into second place, providing him with clear sight of his team-mate. Verstappen had called his car 'undriveable' in qualifying on his way to taking a lowly seventh grid spot. And his torrid weekend was over on the first lap when Antonelli arrived like a torpedo at the third corner to T-bone the four-time world champion. 'I'm out, got hit, like crazy,' Verstappen said. 'F****** idiots.' In the other Red Bull, Yuki Tsunoda was penalised for crunching Franco Colapinto and would finish 16th and last. A desperate weekend for Red Bull at their home event. Back to the front, and the safety car – released following the first-lap drama – came in at the end of lap three. For the next 16 laps, Norris would never be more than a second clear of Piastri. Oscar Piastri congratulates Norris (Darko Bandic/AP) And on the 11th lap, Piastri made the first move when he overtook Norris on the entry to turn three. Norris did not challenge knowing that a clean exit would provide him with a slingshot on the downhill drag to the next corner, and his wily decision worked when he got his man back on the inside of the right-hander. Clean racing from both, and the gap remained at half a second. Norris then ran wide on the exit of the final bend on lap 15 allowing Piastri a chance to close, but the Australian resisted a challenge. It was nip-and-tuck before Piastri attempted a banzai dive at turn four on lap 20. Piastri locked his front-right tyre and came agonisingly close to sliding into Norris' car. Lewis Hamilton's wait for a first podium in Ferrari colours continued (Darko Bandic/AP) McLaren promptly hauled in Norris for his first of two tyre changes. Piastri, perhaps as punishment, was left out on track with a flat-spotted tyre for four additional laps and was losing time – a signal that McLaren had seen enough. By the time Piastri emerged from his stop, Norris was six seconds up the road. 'The feedback from the pit-wall was that the move into turn four was too marginal and we can't do that again,' Piastri was told by his race engineer, Tom Stallard. Norris came in for his second stop with 18 laps remaining with a three-second lead. Piastri would stop the next time around and was then forced to take to the grass as he attempted to lap Colapinto in 14th. Piastri continued his charge and with 10 laps to go was back within two seconds. 'I need some pace,' Norris said. 'Please help.' But Piastri would not get a sniff as Norris took the chequered flag for his seventh career win – a perfect tonic as a pre-cursor to next weekend's British Grand Prix. 'We had a great battle, that's for sure,' Norris said. 'It was a lot of fun, a lot of stress, but a nice battle. It was tricky, hot and tiring, but the perfect result as a team.' Piastri said on the radio: 'Sorry for my move at turn four, that was my bad.' He added: 'I tried my absolute best and I probably could have done a better job when I momentarily got ahead. It was a bit on the edge, and I might have pushed a bit too far, but it was a good race and that is what we are here to do, to race each other and fight for wins.'
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Lando Norris eager for British Grand Prix after closing title gap to 15 points
Norris will head to his home race at Silverstone in a week's time a driver reborn after he came out on top of his thrilling wheel-to-wheel duel with McLaren team-mate Piastri in the Styrian mountains. After claiming the third win of his stop-start campaign, the Englishman has reduced the title deficit to Piastri to 15 points from 22. AUSTRIA IS PAPAYA! 🧡#McLaren | #AustrianGP 🇦🇹 — McLaren (@McLarenF1) June 29, 2025 Max Verstappen is now 61 points off the title pace after he was taken out on the opening lap by Mercedes' teenager Kimi Antonelli. A crowd touching 150,000 is expected at Silverstone next weekend, while Norris will also have a dedicated area for his fans, the Landostand, at Stowe corner. But Norris said: 'For me, it is not more pressure. Of course, it is the place I want to win more than anywhere else. It puts a smile on my face when I wake up there every day, and it distracts me in a good way. 'There is pressure in every race and I cannot put myself under any more pressure than I do. So, it is something to look forward to, to enjoy every lap, enjoy the experience, and to have so many of my fans in my own grandstand cheering me on. 'I am very excited. I would want it to come now. But I need a good sleep first.' Norris' championship hopes were in tatters after the Canadian Grand Prix a fortnight ago following a collision with Piastri which the British driver said made him look like a fool. But Norris put his McLaren on pole by more than half-a-second here, and did not crumble under the pressure from Piastri amid their breathless ding-dong battle. 'It is certainly fulfilling for me and it gives me good confidence,' continued Norris, 25. 'I don't need to prove anything to anyone, only to me. It has been a good clean weekend. I have performed exactly as I wanted to do and needed to. 'But it doesn't come easily. I have not just turned up and things are better. I am working and doing a lot more away from the track than I used to with the team, on the simulator, and my own team in trying to improve everything I can. It is positive to see that paying off immediately. And it is a good step in the right direction. But I still want more and still need more so we will keep working.' Norris and Piastri traded places on lap 11 as they fought for the lead before the latter came within centimetres of crashing into his team-mate nine laps later when his lunge at turn four almost backfired. A warning to the Australian arrived from the McLaren pit-wall. Piastri subsequently apologised over the radio for the close shave. 'It was stressful for sure, and not the most comfortable position to be in,' admitted Norris. 'There were a lot of laps where I was looking in my mirrors. We both want to race hard and fair and it goes both ways. We have to put Montreal behind us and behind me for sure. It is something I wish didn't happen but it was nice we could push to the limit here. There were some close moments but nothing that would make (team principal) Andrea (Stella) or the pit wall sweat too much.'
