How much of a delay in production can you tolerate...

[Dobbin145]

.... before you loose interest and get your deposit back? 

Like many I would really like Lotus to achieve the ambitious timescales for Emira production they have set themselves. However, since some dealers have had the delivery of their Final Editions pushed back by three months I can't help thinking this may have a knock on effect on Emira production. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the Elise delay/waiting list ran to two years when that was launched. Obviously I don't think that Emira will be that bad but I'd put money on the Spring 2022 target slipping to late summer/autumn [insert year here].

This may apply more to those new to the brand, than existing Lotus owners who know their MO. 

[Barrykearley]

I would think this is related to the short term supply chain issue relating to silicon devices. it’s very probable that this simply won’t be an issue by next year - but who knows.

[Dobbin145]

It is. I think the big question will be if this impacts the move of the current model production line to Emira sub assembly. 

[Barrykearley]

I was of the very clear understanding the emira production hall was all new and in a different area completely.

[Dobbin145]

The main assembly line is, but the production process is quite different to existing models. As such is reliant in the delivery of sub assemblies from other parts of the factory (currently being used to build existing models). 

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Wouldn’t any alternative car manufacturer have similar issues, not that I have actually heard of any for the Emira, which isn’t even in production yet? You might be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire by switching your order to a competitor.

[Dobbin145]

Yes they would. Has anyone heard much about Emira production since the middle of last month? Lotus have only just started a significant recruitment drive for production staff. 

The VP dealer tour has been put back to after the point that deposit holders are supposed to commit. 

[freefall_junkie]

The production dates always looked tight to me given that Lotus have to get a brand new factory up and running at far greater volumes than they have ever done before, even without the additional problems of chip shortages.

The delay in the dealer tour is concerning. I can just about get my head around ordering before having driven it, but I really don't like the idea of committing to buying a car I haven't even seen or sat in. Did you hear how long the tour is delayed for? 

[Dobbin145]

3 minutes ago, freefall_junkie said:

Did you hear how long the tour is delayed for? 

I think mid Oct, but have to confess I have not verified this with my contacts at Hethel.

[Bibs]

The Emira tour isn't delayed at all, no changes from the initial announcements and it'll be starting it's trip around the network in September as planned. 

[Dobbin145]

That's good to hear. I think my confusion may have arisen from the fact that it's going to take a while to complete this tour and that it may not be until October when the car gets to some dealers. The actual schedule of which dealers when does seem a bit vague at the moment.

[Evotion]

Bloody hell. Don't do this to me! 😃. Jeezuz.

In answer to the question. NOTHING and no delay will stop me getting at least one Emira. If there was a significant, fundamentally driven delay then I will get an Exige next year and then wait for the Emira. 

Either way, I cannot lose in my eyes,

[TomE]

On 21/08/2021 at 07:55, Dobbin145 said:

The VP dealer tour has been put back to after the point that deposit holders are supposed to commit. 

There's an order window, you don't have to commit in September.  We'll know more once Lotus publish the details.  My assumption is a batch of the earliest deposit holders will have to commit sooner than the later deposits, but we don't know what the cutoff will be, whether it'll be a rolling process or phased batches etc.  I think the deposit confirmation email said Nov or Dec as the end of the window.

[Evotion]

Good point. 

As early deposit holders, if later holders commit earlier, do they jump the queue?

 

i.e. I only commit at the end of November and somebody who places a deposit only this week commits early September - will they jump ahead in delivery?  

Anyway, ha, won't affect me. I will wire the deposit the second I can commit.  I imagine I will have a good few months grace before committing to the AMG4cyl.

[TomE]

That wouldn't be fair, so I imagine Lotus will take a different approach.  They contacted all dealers pre-launch to get a list of dealer deposits and evidence of dates placed so they could ensure pre-launch depositers got a fair place in the queue, so it clearly matters to them.

I'd guess it'll be something along the lines of them telling deposit holders 1-500 they are provisionally #236, 237 or whatever, then having a deadline of say end Nov to commit.  Then after the deadline Lotus work out dropouts, V6 vs i4, FE vs own-spec and tell you you're now build slot #198 and likely delivery date.  Deposit holders 501-1000 have a slightly later deadline and so on.  I'm assuming the deposit queue will sub-divide into build slots for FE V6, FE i4, own spec and they'll allocate accordingly.

I may be wrong but I can't see many ways they can do this and still be fair, at least in UK.  I get the impression the approach in the US is different, with allocations to each dealer for 2022 and each running their own queue.  US deposit holders have already been asked to indicate likely headline spec, but not yet had to commit to it.

[ramjet]

You don't really contemplate all the logistics of something that initially sounds simple until you REALLY think about it and the possibilities.

All gets a bit complicated, doesn't it?

I wonder if you'll only be allowed to collect your car if you are fully vaccinated by then? (ramjet 'frags' the topic) 🏃‍♂️

[Wake]

Any delay just means I will have more time to save and therefore more likely to talk myself into the V6!

[tailslides]

I can go with that 🙂

[Evotion]

9 hours ago, TomE said:

US deposit holders have already been asked to indicate likely headline spec, but not yet had to commit to it.

Blimey, I didn't realise that.  Still, we are getting close to that now in the UK.

1 hour ago, Wake said:

Any delay just means I will have more time to save and therefore more likely to talk myself into the V6!

In my case, I might end up with an Exige and two Emiras. 🤔