Lotus gains government grant to grow workforce and improve model range.

British car manufacturer Lotus has secured a £10 million government grant which will see the firm create more than 300 new jobs.

The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) has awarded the automotive firm £10.44 million, which will be used for research and development of products, along with staff training. In addition Lotus is expected to create 313 new full time jobs to support production over the coming years.

Business Secretary, Vince Cable MP visited Lotus’ Norfolk headquarters today, 25 November 2013, where he toured the engineering and factory facilities and formally announced the grant to Lotus management.

The grant is a further boost for Lotus, following a £100 million investment by its owners DRB-HICOM which has allowed the company to enhance its engineering, productivity, efficiency and quality. Lotus is also recruiting for more than 130 new jobs, previously announced in July 2013.

The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is a flexible and competitive £3.2 billion fund operating across England from 2011 to 2017. It supports projects that are using private sector investment to create economic growth and sustainable employment.

Aslam Farikullah, Chief Operating Officer at Lotus, said: “This grant is part of a wider strategy for Lotus created to ensure we thrive and grow.  We are responding to increased global demand for our cars and engineering consultancy services and this grant will help to position Lotus at the forefront of global automotive innovation.

“We have very exciting plans for our sports cars and it’s a very positive move for Lotus that we’re in a position to create new jobs and to significantly contribute to Britain’s automotive industry.

“The team here at Lotus have worked very hard to secure this grant and every employee is playing their part in the stability, growth and future success of our company.”

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “Lotus is an iconic British car maker, with some of the most innovative engineers in the business. The car industry is one of Britain's great success stories, employing over 130,000 people and helping to build a stronger economy by contributing £11 billion a year. The Government's industrial strategy is working and giving business the confidence to invest, creating more high skilled, long term jobs in the UK.

“I am pleased to announce today that our flagship economic plan to create jobs outside of London - the regional growth fund - is awarding Lotus a £10 million grant which will help them develop their next generation of cars and create over 300 new jobs in East Anglia.  The Government has already supported over 400 projects with £2.6 billion from the Regional Growth Fund, promoting growth in regions across England. The latest round is still open for another two weeks and I'd urge all businesses with a plan to support jobs in their local areas to apply"

Vauxhall extends range on Government funding offer.

Vauxhall customers can now benefit from free installation of a home charging unit for their cutting-edge Ampera extended-range electric vehicles.

Yesterday, the Government announced funding for owners of electric vehicles (EVs) where they will cover 75 per cent of costs for home charging unit installations up to a maximum of £1,000 including VAT. Vauxhall will meet the remaining 25 per cent on the same basis for new retail customers taking up the offer.

The Government’s £37 million package of benefits also includes additional measures for local authorities to install on-street charging posts and rapid chargers. Train operators can also claim for charge point installations at railway stations for EV commuters.

“We fully support the Government’s announcement and are very happy to meet the remaining home charging installation costs for Ampera customers,” said Ian Allen, Vauxhall’s Environmental Strategy Manager and Chairman of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ Electric Vehicle Committee. “Vauxhall welcomes a nationwide plan as it means all Ampera drivers will have the cost of their home charging solution covered, not just those who live in certain geographical areas.”

The Government’s announcement is great news for Vauxhall and its revolutionary Ampera. Arriving in UK showrooms last year, Ampera has a real-world battery range of between 25-50 miles, after which a small range-extender motor intervenes to provide up to an additional 300-plus mile range. At all times, the Ampera’s wheels are electrically driven, setting it apart from conventional hybrid vehicles.

Ampera pricing starts at £29,995 on-the-road (including £5,000 government grant) for the Earth model. The car is available through a network of 24 specialist Vauxhall dealers and is covered by the manufacturer’s industry-leading Lifetime Warranty.

Pioneering customers are also given further peace of mind thanks to the Love It or Return It campaign available on Ampera whereby if purchasers find that within the first 30 days/1500 miles of ownership Ampera isn't right for them after all, they can return it to Vauxhall.

The revolutionary vehicle is also offered on the 3-Day Test Drive programme through which company car drivers can test a Vauxhall for three days, without paying a penny more than the electricity and/or the fuel used.