Lotus Lightweight Structures Joins Lotus Group

New Lotus Manufacturing Company Offers Greater Flexibility, Lower Weight Solutions and Reduced Time to Market for World’s Motor Industry.

Group Lotus plc, the world famous sportscar manufacturer and globally renowned automotive engineering consultancy, announces the creation of Lotus Lightweight Structures, following the acquisition of Holden Lightweight Structures Limited today, 15th May 2008.

Lotus Lightweight Structures, which employs 120 skilled engineers, technicians and sales staff, will be based at the former Holden Lightweight Structures Limited site in Worcester, UK and will continue to manufacture light weight aluminium and composite structures and components for its extensive client base as well as growing its business globally through the company’s association with Group Lotus plc.

Lotus Lightweight Structures will continue to assemble the award winning Lotus Elise, Exige and Europa aluminium chassis as well as the all new chassis for the yet to be launched Lotus Project Eagle.

The strategic acquisition of Holden Lightweight Structures Limited and the subsequent creation of Lotus Lightweight Structures enables Lotus to:

• Create, adapt and change its range of products quickly and effectively, catering for changing global customer demands.
• Provide an additional in house manufacturing facility.
• Add an additional manufacturing solution for Lotus Engineering’s global client base, providing lightweight aluminium and composite vehicle components and structures.

Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive of Group Lotus plc, “I am delighted to announce the creation of Lotus Lightweight Structures following the strategic acquisition of Holden Lightweight Structures Limited. With this facility, we will continue to expand and lead the world in lightweight vehicle research, development and production to help our global client base find ways to reduce the weight and cost from their vehicles. Weight reduction is one of the most attainable ways to lowering CO2 emissions in vehicles today, as well as improving fuel economy and performance, and we have a duty to share our technology with the world’s car makers for everyone’s long term benefit.”