Lotus Cars’ new assembly hall is readied for final Evija hypercar prototype production
The Lotus Evija will be the first all-new model Lotus Cars has ever produced since Geely’s 51% acquisition of the company nearly three years ago. Codenamed “Type 130”, the Evija is an all-electric hypercar was introduced July last year and will begin production in Lotus’ new assembly hall in Hethel, Norfolk, UK this year.
Built next to Lotus’ 3.5 km test track, the new assembly hall will begin series production and first customer deliveries between June and August this year. The project has involved the co-ordination of 20 specialist contractors with more than 50 experts on-site over the last six months.
The new workspace will see Lotus hand-build up to 130 units of the Evija, which the first year’s production allocation is already designated to customers around the world.
This is now the newest car production facility in the world, and to witness it move from the drawing board to reality has been deeply satisfying. It’s testament to the commitment of all involved, and is the perfect sleek and high-tech production home for the Evija at our iconic Hethel headquarters.
With our new factory ready, we are ahead of the pack in the emerging EV hypercar segment and 100% ready for some healthy competition.
Phil Popham, CEO, Lotus Cars
The interior of the assembly hall has been fitted on three sides with gantries, which frame the build stations. These have been designed and engineered to carry the necessary power, data and compressed air system require to assemble the all-electric hypercar.
Moreover, the hall features an overhead gantry crane, multiple vehicle lifts and a wheel alignment ramp have also been installed. The interior is illuminated by more than 30,000 of the latest high-density, low-energy LEDs. And, a state-of-the-art light tunnel will house the rigorous final inspection, before each Evija is driven out directly on to the famous Hethel test track for dynamic validation.
The Evija boasts 1,973 bhp and 1,700 Nm of torque with a range to 400 Km on a single charge of its 70 kw/h battery. The all-electric hypercar is priced from £1.7m (RM9.3m) + duties and taxes.
