Who owns Lotus?
Lotus is owned by Geely (China), which has owned the brand since 23 June 2017.[1] Lotus was founded in 1948 in Hethel and was independent until 2017.
This ownership is reported in official statements but has not yet been matched to a regulatory filing.
Key facts
- Current owner
- Zhejiang Geely Holding Group reported
- Owned since
- Previous owner
- Independent (1948–2017)
- Owner HQ
- 🇨🇳 China, Hangzhou
- Origin
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, Hethel
- Founded
- 1948
- Category
- Automotive › Cars › Sports & performance cars
- Last verified
- · 1 sources
About Lotus
Lotus was founded by Colin Chapman, whose engineering philosophy was to add lightness rather than power, an approach that won seven Formula One constructors' championships. Geely acquired a controlling stake in 2017 and has moved it towards electric performance cars.
Ownership timeline of Lotus
Where Lotus sits in Geely
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
Open the full Geely ownership tree →
Other brands owned by Geely in automotive
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Lotus?
The parent company of Lotus is Geely, a privately held company headquartered in China.
Is Lotus British or Chinese?
Lotus originated in the United Kingdom in 1948, but it is owned today by Geely, which is headquartered in China. So Lotus is a British-origin brand under Chinese ownership.
Since when has Geely owned Lotus?
Geely has owned Lotus since 23 June 2017.
Who owned Lotus before Geely?
Lotus was an independent company from its founding in 1948 in Hethel until Geely acquired it in 2017.
Is Lotus still owned by Geely?
Yes. As of 8 September 2026, Lotus is still owned by Geely. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (1) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.
- [1] Zhejiang Geely Holding Group — about us — Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, Official document; retrieved 8 September 2026.
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