Lotus Cars/Lotus Engineering - automotive industry company news 
INDIA: Mahindra & Mahindra readying Saab bid - paper
7 February 2012
Mahindra & Mahindra, one of four companies interested in Saab Automobiles, has signed a confidentiality agreement with the bankrupt company and is in the process of finalising its bid, an Indian media report said. China's BAIC, possibly in conjunction with Panasonic reportedly may also submit a bid.
BELGIUM: GM could still have say with Youngman Saab 9-3 plan: CLEPA
6 February 2012
European automotive supplier body CLEPA, is cautioning General Motors could still be involved if prospective Saab bidder, Youngman, starts up production using the 9-3 model.
MALAYSIA: DRB-Hicom to review Proton’s strategy
19 January 2012
Malaysia’s DRB-Hicom has begun a review of Proton’s operations and strategy after it acquired the Malaysian government’s 42.7% stake in the national carmaker. The company is also expected to acquire other minority holdings in Proton to consolidate its control.
SWEDEN: Saab State salary pot near empty as delegation starts China visit
19 January 2012
Bankrupt Saab's main white collar labour body Unionen, says its members have around one and half months salary left before the State guarantee runs out
CHINA: Bosch spearheads Youngman visit as new Saab rescue plan mooted
19 January 2012
European supplier body CLEPA has arranged for a Chinese-speaking Bosch representative to be on today's (19 January) Youngman-sponsored trip to China in a bid to evaluate its potential new EUR1bn bid for bankrupt Saab.
MALAYSIA: DRB-Hicom confirms interest in Proton
10 January 2012
Malaysia’s diversified industrial group DRB-HICOM has confirmed its interest in acquiring the 42.7% stake in Proton Holdings owned by state-owned investment company Khazanah Nasional Bhd.
UK: Lotus CEO signs up for another four years
13 December 2011
Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar has entered into a new agreement to stay in his post at the company until the end of 2015. He has also told journalists that the company could be sold then.
MALAYSIA: DRB-Hicom to buy stake in Proton
12 December 2011
Malaysia’s state-owned Khazanah Nasional is looking to sell its 42.7% stake in Proton Holdings to DRB-Hicom, a diversified local industrial company with a growing automotive portfolio, according to local reports.
CHINA: Pang Da still talking Saab investment plans
6 December 2011
China's Pang Da Automobile will continue talks with various parties including Saab on plans to invest in the carmaker, it said in a statement.
SWEDEN: Saab talks finance with Youngman and Chinese bank
5 December 2011
Saab Automobiles owner Swedish Automobile (Swan) said on Monday it was talking with Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile (Youngman) and "a bank in China" about an equity interest in Swan.
MALAYSIA: Proton’s Q2 profits fall 76%
29 November 2011
Malaysia’s Proton reported a 76.4% year-on-year fall in net profits to MYR 15.55 million (USD 5.1 million) in the second quarter of the current fiscal year, to September 30th.
MALAYSIA: Genii may acquire stake in Group Lotus
12 October 2011
Luxembourg-based investment firm Genii Capital is looking to acquire a stake in UK sportscar and engineering firm Group Lotus, according to reports in the UK press quoting high-level sources within the company.
SWEDEN: Administrator could pull Saab plug after loan no-show
11 October 2011
The administrator in charge of Saab's restructuring under court protection could pull the plug on the process as early as today (Tuesday 11 November), paving the way for declaring the automaker bankrupt, Swedish daily newspaper Svenska Dagbladet has reported.
September 2011 management briefing: IAA Frankfurt Motor Show retrospective
30 September 2011
His blisters now healed and floodlight-induced suntan fading, Glenn Brooks reflects on the best and biggest Frankfurt motor show he has attended.
September 2011 management briefing: IAA Frankfurt Motor Show preview
12 September 2011
Notwithstanding the incongruous absence of Nissan, the 2011 Frankfurt motor show sees an automotive industry in a determinedly upbeat mood, with the German manufacturers especially keen to show off at home. Glenn Brooks, who will be walking the halls for just-auto in the coming days, considers which models matter.
MALAYSIA: Proton’s earnings gobbled up by Lotus
30 August 2011
Proton Holdings reported a 95% drop in net earnings to MYR4.5m in the first quarter of the current financial 2011, ending in June, compared with a MYR84.7m a year earlier.
INDIA: Force Motors enters personal vehicles segment with SUVs
23 August 2011
Force Motors has announced its entry into the personal vehicles segment with the launch of its sports utility vehicle in Mumbai on 19 August. The vehicle costs INR 1.07m (US$ 23,350).
Interview with Bob Lutz
10 August 2011
In a long and distinguished career, Bob Lutz was the archetypal 'car guy' auto industry executive. He may be approaching 80 years of age and 'retired', but he is still pretty active. Straight talking Mr Lutz tells Dave Leggett that he relishes the opportunity to advise Lotus and that his time at GM taught him that you need to give designers leeway if you want to make good cars...
AUSTRALIA: Ateco to import Lotus for Australia and New Zealand
5 August 2011
Lotus Cars has appointed Sydney-based Ateco Automotive official importer and distributor for its cars in Australia and New Zealand.
US: Lotus leads Hertz adrenaline rush
25 July 2011
Hertz, the world's largest car rental brand, is extending its ‘Adrenaline Collection’ of 'exciting' models for hire into European markets and will launch with the Lotus Evora.
UK: Lotus announces increased revenues
21 July 2011
Lotus has announced increased revenues for the year ended 31 March.
UK: Lotus sees jobs creation under expansion plans
19 July 2011
Managers at Lotus believe that up to 1,200 new jobs could be created under plans to add models and expand output at its UK operations base.
FEATURE: Electric vehicle range extenders – rival approaches
18 July 2011
As automotive manufacturers announce new projects, Dr Peter Harrop, Chairman IDTechEx, takes a look at the latest developments in the burgeoning field of the EV 'range extender'.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: The Sunday tabloid that was
8 July 2011
If the words News of the World have any meaning for you you'll know that the last 24 hours have not been British journalism's finest moments.
UK: Lotus awaits UK loan news
4 July 2011
Specialist sports car maker Lotus should know in about three months whether a second attempt to raise cash from the UK government has succeeded.
ANALYSIS: What does Saab get from Youngman?
13 June 2011
While it is way too early to know how the proposed manufacturing and distribution venture between Spyker, Saab, Pang Da and Youngman will pan out, it's worth taking a look at what other manufacturer alliances Youngman is already involved in.
CHINA: Youngman to build cars for Saab
13 June 2011
Spyker Cars, Saab Automobile, Pang Da Automobile and Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile (Youngman) have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the manufacture and distribution of cars in China.
MALAYSIA: Proton increases spending to fund expansion
31 May 2011
Malaysia’s Proton Holdings reported a threefold increase in net profits to MYR61.6m (US$21.4m) for the quarter ended 31 March, compared with MYR2.64m a year earlier.
UK: Lotus confirms funding for new models
26 May 2011
Proton has been propping up Lotus cars for many years and has emerged as a key player in funding the British sports car company's ambitious new product plans.
MALAYSIA: Proton secures GBP270m Lotus funding
15 April 2011
National carmaker Proton has secured GBP270m (US$440m) to fund a five-year turnaround at its loss-making British-based unit Group Lotus.
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