Matt Windle has officially stepped down from his position as President and CEO of Lotus Cars Europe, ending an eight-year tenure at the British car brand.
Lotus, which has been under the ownership of Geely Holdings since 2017, is in the middle of implementing its Vision 80 strategy. This is a plan that aims to transform the marque in time for its 80th anniversary in 2028. That strategy has led to Lotus investing heavily in new product lines, including electric SUVs and saloons, as well as new manufacturing facilities in China and expanding operations in the UK.
However, the planned transformation certainly hasn’t come without challenges. In 2024, Lotus sold over 12,000 vehicles, with more than half of them being built in China, but still reported an operating loss of around £600 million.
There have also been several rounds of job cuts. In total, around 650 UK-based roles have been made redundant across 2023 and 2024, reducing the company’s UK workforce to around 750. Lotus has also handed over its flagship London showroom to dealer group HR Owen.
In response to slower-than-expected demand for electric vehicles, Lotus has revised its product roadmap. The brand now plans to introduce plug-in hybrid models starting in 2026, moving away from an all-electric focus in the hope of a more sustainable growth path.
Matt Windle’s LinkedIn post announcing his departure said:
“After a period of reflection and contemplation, I have taken the difficult decision to step down from my roles at Lotus. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone I have worked with over the last eight and a half years, from customers to dealers, suppliers, media and government.
My most profound thanks must go to my colleagues. It has been an honour and privilege to work with and represent you all through what has been a transformational period in the company’s history. I wish every one of you the very best for the future. After the experience of this Executive role, I’m driven to create a meaningful impact wherever the next opportunity arises.”
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