Strong rumor, DRB-Hicom looking to unload Lotus

Rumors are circulating in the automotive market that the new owners of Group Lotus is looking to sell the sports car manufacturer. News has come from South Norfolk UK MP Richard Bacon that DRB-Hicom is looking for a Chinese automotive group to buy the specialized engineering group and sports car maker. Lotus’s headquarters in Hethel, which is located about 10 miles south of Norwich is part of Richard Bacon’s constituency and he is looking out for the workers of Lotus. He said that global business consultancy KPMG has been asked to serve as a “corporate salesman” to find Lotus a new owner. Bacon was present during an hour-long parliamentary debate on Lotus’s fate earlier this week.
Those who came to the debate include the MPs from nearby constituencies while the government was represented by Mark Prisk, minister of state for business, innovation and skills. Bacon said that the purpose of the debate was to emphasize the value to the Norfolk region of Lotus’s special technical skills and innovation culture. It also seeks to signify the concern towards Lotus’s 1200 Hethel-based jobs, which are placed at risk when the company gets a new owner.