Lotus has terminated contracts with several franchised dealerships in the UK as part of a "restructuring" of its retail network to coincide with the launch of the Emira.
The move has sparked concerns that the availability of parts for second-hand Lotus models – already a concern for owners – could be restricted.
According to a forum post from Maidstone Sports Cars, itself affected, the list of businesses that will no longer be official Lotus retailers includes Rapid Mechanical Services in Romford, SJ Sports Cars in Crediton and at least four more outfits.
The move comes as Lotus seeks to centralise its aftersales offering – an initiative that forms part of a significant modernisation push for the Norfolk brand under Geely ownership.
Lotus is undergoing a period of significant upheaval, with Phil Popham recently replaced as its CEO after less than three years by ex-engineering boss Matt Windle, its Hethel headquarters being subject to a multi-million pound upgrade programme and the launch of its first electric car on the horizon.
As part of the restructuring of Lotus’s network, some of its smaller dealers will no longer be official partners of the brand.
A Lotus representative told Autocar that agreements were achieved mutually with many retailers who weren't in a position to make the necessary investment in their businesses going forward or were not situated in a target location for Lotus.
The necessary investment for rebranding their forecourts in line with Lotus's new corporate image is among one of the likely inhibiting factors for many smaller firms. Lotus recently showed off its refitted Bahrain dealership, its first global premises to display the new logo and badging.
Lotus is seeking to raise the profile of its retail operation, partnering with national dealer groups including Hendy and FG Barnes to sell its sports cars alongside more mainstream products in more central and highly visible locations.
Lotus’s website does still list multiple standalone retailers, however, including Lotus Silverstone, Bell & Colvill in Surrey and Endeavour Automotive in Colchester, and many of the businesses that will no longer serve as retailers will retain their ‘authorised repairer’ status.
The Lotus representative told Autocar the move shouldn't diminish the ability of UK-based Lotus owners to have their cars repaired or maintained.
An official statement from Lotus obtained by Autocar explained: “The provision of replacement parts is a hugely significant element of our business, and with the run-out this year of Elise, Exige and Evora, it has never been more important.
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Lotus has yet to reveal its dedicated online parts hub, but details are expected in the coming weeks.
Ebay or Gumtree ?
WOW - What a way to kick people in the teeth, so when Lotus were at their lowest, offering nothing to no one, these dealers stuck by them, with their loyalty, customer service and far more, but as soon as the purse strings loosen, and Lotus now thinks they are a UK Porsche, they kick a large chunk of their dealers in the teeth, well, that shows what Loyalty means these days, and what sort of future the brand will show to customers, if thats how they treat their dealers.Personally I do not give too hoots if a big pastic logo is on the forecourt or the building is covered in grey plastic, thats an irrelevancy, JLR has shown that, they all look the same, but still have c-r-a-p customer service, which is what you want, when you are spending multi tens of thousands on new cars, you want to be treated properly, and these family run businesses do that, they treat you so much better than corporate entities, Marshalls, based in cambridge, is by far the worst dealership chain I have had the misfortune to buy a car from, and the best service I ever had was from a now gone Rover dealer in halesworth Suffolk, Prime & Cowells, they treated you like family, Marshalls treat you like you are the thing they stepped in, and it is like that in all their dealerships, across all brands. Just look at their trust pilot if you do not believe me.
Clearly Lotus has forgotten that the buying public has stuck by them for decades as they made rubbish cars with rubbish reliability, now that are getting it right they are dumping their loyal customers and dealers, I fear this may backfire on the hugely. And they will deserve it.