British sports car manufacturer Lotus is set to cut up to 270 jobs in the UK, citing “volatile and evolving market conditions”, including the impact of new US tariffs on its vehicles.
The Norfolk-based company said the restructuring was “vital to enhance our competitiveness” and ensure long-term sustainability. The cuts will affect staff at its Hethel plant near Norwich, where the Emira coupé and Evija hypercar are manufactured. Other UK sites — including the Lotus Advanced Structures facility at Norwich Airport, its R&D centre in Warwick, and commercial HQ in London — will remain unaffected.
The move comes just days after Lotus halted US shipments of the Emira, in response to President Trump’s 25% import tariff on UK-built cars — part of a broader tariff shake-up that has sent ripples through the global automotive sector.
In a statement shared with Business Matters, the company said: “Lotus Cars has announced a proposed business restructure to ensure sustainable operations, amid volatile and evolving market conditions including the US tariffs and shifting consumer demand for sports cars.”
The company added that it would seek greater synergies with its parent company Geely, the Chinese automotive giant which also owns Volvo, Polestar and LEVC. This could include closer collaboration in engineering, technology and operations, although details remain limited.
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