
Business Secretary meeting Lotus after reports of plans to scrap UK carmaking
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 will speak to the company on Sunday, the PA news agency understands.
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.'
A Government spokesperson said: 'The Government does not comment on speculation or the commercial affairs of private companies.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Leader Live
33 minutes ago
- Leader Live
US tariff relief for UK carmakers and aerospace comes into force
Car manufacturers exporting to the US will face a 10% tariff quota, down from 27.5%, while the aerospace sector will see a 10% levy removed entirely. Sir Keir hailed the 'historic trade deal' with the US, clinched after Donald Trump imposed the import taxes as part of his 'liberation day' tariffs on countries across the world. The Prime Minister and US president finalised the deal for those sectors at the G7 summit, but levies on steel have been left standing at 25% rather than falling to zero as originally agreed. Talks are ongoing to secure 0% tariffs on core steel products from the UK. The executive order signed by Mr Trump suggests the US wants assurances on the supply chains for UK steel intended for export, as well as on the 'nature of ownership' of production facilities. Sir Keir said: 'Our historic trade deal with the United States delivers for British businesses and protects UK jobs. 'From today, our world-class automotive and aerospace industries will see tariffs slashed, safeguarding key industries that are vital to our economy. 'We will always act in the national interest – backing British businesses and workers, delivering on our Plan for Change.' Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the deal would save hundreds of millions each year and safeguard thousands of jobs. 'We agreed this deal with the US to protect jobs and support growth in some of our most vital sectors – and today, we're delivering on that promise for the UK's world-class automotive and aerospace industries.' Kevin Craven, head of aerospace trade association ADS, said the sector 'hugely appreciated' the efforts to reach a deal. Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders chief executive Mike Hawes said the agreement was 'good news for US customers and a huge relief for the UK automotive companies that export to this critically important market'. The Government is also due to update Parliament on Monday on ethanol and quotas on US beef. Under the deal, it was agreed that a 20% tariff on US beef imports to the UK be removed and the quota for US beef raised to 13,000 metric tonnes. A 19% tariff on ethanol imports from the US is also due to be removed, with a tariff-free quota of 1.4 billion litres of US ethanol applied. The bioethanol industry says the deal has made it impossible to compete with heavily subsidised American products. The UK's largest bioethanol plant warned last week that it could be weeks from stopping production. Hull-based Vivergo Fuels said the start of talks with the Government was a 'positive signal' but that it was simultaneously beginning consultation with staff to wind down the plant.


South Wales Guardian
33 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
US tariff relief for UK carmakers and aerospace comes into force
Car manufacturers exporting to the US will face a 10% tariff quota, down from 27.5%, while the aerospace sector will see a 10% levy removed entirely. Sir Keir hailed the 'historic trade deal' with the US, clinched after Donald Trump imposed the import taxes as part of his 'liberation day' tariffs on countries across the world. The Prime Minister and US president finalised the deal for those sectors at the G7 summit, but levies on steel have been left standing at 25% rather than falling to zero as originally agreed. Talks are ongoing to secure 0% tariffs on core steel products from the UK. The executive order signed by Mr Trump suggests the US wants assurances on the supply chains for UK steel intended for export, as well as on the 'nature of ownership' of production facilities. Sir Keir said: 'Our historic trade deal with the United States delivers for British businesses and protects UK jobs. 'From today, our world-class automotive and aerospace industries will see tariffs slashed, safeguarding key industries that are vital to our economy. 'We will always act in the national interest – backing British businesses and workers, delivering on our Plan for Change.' Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the deal would save hundreds of millions each year and safeguard thousands of jobs. 'We agreed this deal with the US to protect jobs and support growth in some of our most vital sectors – and today, we're delivering on that promise for the UK's world-class automotive and aerospace industries.' Kevin Craven, head of aerospace trade association ADS, said the sector 'hugely appreciated' the efforts to reach a deal. Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders chief executive Mike Hawes said the agreement was 'good news for US customers and a huge relief for the UK automotive companies that export to this critically important market'. The Government is also due to update Parliament on Monday on ethanol and quotas on US beef. Under the deal, it was agreed that a 20% tariff on US beef imports to the UK be removed and the quota for US beef raised to 13,000 metric tonnes. A 19% tariff on ethanol imports from the US is also due to be removed, with a tariff-free quota of 1.4 billion litres of US ethanol applied. The bioethanol industry says the deal has made it impossible to compete with heavily subsidised American products. The UK's largest bioethanol plant warned last week that it could be weeks from stopping production. Hull-based Vivergo Fuels said the start of talks with the Government was a 'positive signal' but that it was simultaneously beginning consultation with staff to wind down the plant.


The Guardian
40 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Britons could soon install balcony solar panels in flats and rental homes
Those living in flats or rented homes in the UK could soon plug in their own 'balcony solar panels' to save on their energy bills under plans set out in the government's solar power strategy. The proposals could mean that British households that are unable to install rooftop solar panels will soon join millions of people across Europe who generate their own electricity with 'plug-in' panels. These panels, found on balconies across Spain and Germany, can be plugged directly into a home's power socket to generate solar electricity for the household. The DIY panels are already fitted to about 1.5m balconies in Germany, where they are known as Balkonkraftwerk (balcony power plant). They typically save households about 30% on their energy bills and cost between €400-800, with no installation fees required, meaning they pay for themselves within six years. There is also growing interest in balcony solar across Spain, Italy, Poland and in France. But in the UK, regulations do not currently allow plug-in solar, meaning bill payers in flats or rented homes are often blocked from benefiting from cheap solar power, while others face hurdles due to the relatively high upfront cost of installing traditional rooftop solar systems. Michael Shanks, the energy minister, said: 'Through solar, we are rolling out the quickest to build and one of the cheapest forms of energy for families to start saving hundreds on their energy bills, all while helping tackle the climate crisis.' The government has promised to consult on the plans to bring balcony solar power from the continent to Britain as part of a new roadmap towards tripling the UK's solar power capacity, published on Monday. Ministers are also considering the potential to install more rooftop solar on the canopies of large outdoor car ports and believe there is significant scope to install solar panels on warehouse and factory roofs. Just 20% of the UK's biggest warehouses could provide up to 15 gigawatts of solar capacity – or half the planned growth by the end of the decade, according to the government's clean power plan. The plans to back rooftop solar are likely to find strong support from consumer groups and local community campaigners concerned about the impact of the government's ambitious targets for Britain's countryside and farmland. The government has promised that its solar ambitions will require less than half a percent of the UK's total land. Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, hopes to grow the capacity of the UK's solar farms from 18GW today to between 45 and 47GW by the end of the decade. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion He has already approved a string of major solar farms across the Midlands since the Labour party came to power last year, including the largest solar farm in the UK at the old Cottam coal plant site on the borders of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. The goal set out in the roadmap is slightly lower than the Labour party's election manifesto pledge to triple the UK's solar capacity to 50GW by 2030, but the strategy has suggested that the UK may be able to overshoot the target by up to 10GW if rooftop solar panels are included in the tally. The government has promised that families could save about £500 a year on their energy bills by installing rooftop solar panels as part of the government's solar strategy, which could support up to 35,000 jobs. Chris Stark, who leads the government's clean power 'mission control' unit, said the 'once in a generation increase' in solar power would 'only be possible with a mission-focus' on working in partnership with the industry and reforming the queue of solar projects waiting to join the grid.