Lotus has recently made headlines with the announcement of record-breaking sales in December 2024, solidifying its position as one of the top three ultra-luxury car brands in the world. This achievement comes hot on the heels of a legal victory that sees the iconic brand regaining full rights to its logo, name, and Chinese trademark.
According to reports, Lotus saw sales exceeding 2000 units globally in December, marking a significant milestone for the brand. While exact figures have yet to be disclosed, the company’s claim to a top-three position in the ultra-luxury segment has certainly turned heads. It remains to be seen how this ranking will be defined and measured in the industry.
Lotus Group CEO Feng Qingfeng reportedly issued an internal announcement celebrating the legal victory, which officially returned the round Lotus logo, Chinese language trademark Lianhua, and wordmark to the Lotus Group as of December 7, 2024. This marks a significant milestone for the brand, which has been operating under the name Lotus NYO since Geely acquired a controlling stake in 2017.
The legal battle for control of the Lotus name dates back to a deal with the Youngman Group in China during the early 2000s. Initially, the agreement granted distribution rights for Lotus vehicles, along with the Chinese name Lianhua, to Youngman. This partnership led to the importation of the Lotus Europa by Youngman, marking the start of a complex relationship between the two companies.
Lotus, then largely owned by the Malaysian car company Proton, saw its brand associated with Youngman’s production of Proton-based cars in China. The collaboration saw Lotus Engineering involved in the development of Europestar vehicles, which were eventually rebranded as Lianhua cars. Despite the contract between Youngman and Proton expiring in 2012, production of Proton-based cars continued until around 2015.
Both the UK side and Geely engaged in protracted legal battles in China to reclaim control of the Lotus name from the Youngman Group. The recent victory in December 2024 represents the culmination of five years of efforts on the Chinese side and over two decades of litigation on the British side. With this legal win, Lotus will no longer need to operate under the Lotus NYO moniker in China.
Looking ahead, 2025 holds special significance for Lotus as it marks the 75th anniversary of Formula One and the 50th anniversary of the iconic Esprit model. With its legal issues now resolved, Lotus is poised for a milestone year as it continues to solidify its position in the ultra-luxury automotive market.
Sources: Fast Technology, IT Home.
