Lotus may be due for a pit stop in the U.S. The only Lotus model sold in the U.S., the Evora, is being dropped for the 2015 model year because it no longer meets federal crash standards.
In a statement to Automotive News Europe, Lotus said it remains committed to the North American market. “We will not be producing a 2015 model year Evora, therefore there will be limited availability of the 2014 model year car over the next few months,” the statement said.
The company promises it will return in 2016 with an Evora that is “fully U.S. compliant.”
The 2014 Evora has a base price of $69,965, including shipping.
The 62-year-old company announced late last week it is laying off 325 people from its global staff of 1,125. That follows layoffs in July at its U.S. headquarters near Atlanta that reduced staff from 11 to just seven employees. The Automotive News Data Center estimates Lotus has sold just 112 cars this year through its 42 U.S. dealers.
Lotus posted a 159 million pound loss in the financial year that ended March 31, 2013, following a loss of 115 million pounds the previous fiscal year. Lotus declined to provide more recent financial data.
Lotus spokesman Alastair Florance said parts, service and warranty payments to dealers are unaffected by the restructuring and will continue as normal.
A dealer in California who declined to be identified says the company has enough inventory on the ground until the new car arrives.
It is unclear if the restructuring will affect Lotus Engineering, a separate arm of Group Lotus that contracts engineering services to automakers and suppliers. Calls and emails to Lotus Engineering’s Ann Arbor office were not answered.
Nick Gibbs contributed to this report
Richard Truett
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