Major car brand 'expected to axe 550 jobs' at UK headquarters

British sportscar legend Lotus is reportedly on the brink of slashing 550 jobs at its UK headquarters. The Norfolk-based carmaker, which has been a staple in Hethel since the 1960s, is understood to employ around 1,300 staff at its headquarters.

Founded in 1948 by engineering maestro Colin Chapman and his wife Hazel, Lotus has captivatedmotoring enthusiasts across the globe for decades. Yet, according to the BBC, the company has issued a statement declaring: "We believe this is necessary in order to secure a sustainable future for the company in today's rapidly evolving automotive environment, which is seeing uncertainty with rapid changes in global policies, including tariffs."

"The brand remains fully committed to the UK, and Norfolk will remain the home of the Lotus' sports car, motorsports and engineering consulting operations," reported Birmingham Live.

"It is actively exploring future growth opportunities to diversify Lotus Cars' business model, including through third-party manufacturing."

This development follows previous assurances from Lotus that it would not shut down its UK manufacturing operations, even in the face of new tariffs introduced by Donald Trump in June.

However, it was during this period that the firm decided to temporarily halt production at its headquarters amid wider struggles within the UK automotive sector, as reported by the Mirror.

Lotus' website proudly narrates the brand's story and philosophy, proclaiming: "Through seven decades of boundary-pushing heritage, Lotus has inspired and united generations of passionate drivers.

"As we look to the future, Lotus continues to set new standards in automotive excellence. Our journey is just beginning.

"Lotus was founded by Colin and Hazel Chapman in 1948, in London, UK. A maverick engineer and era-defining mind, Chapman believed in the power of simplicity, subtracting the redundant and investing in the essential. Over the years, Lotus has remained true to its founder's spirit, with countless racetrack victories and engineering breakthroughs to its name."

"Greatness was never achieved by settling for the status quo.

"Lotus has remained committed to the pursuit of true innovation, introducing cutting-edge technologies and developing advanced materials to meet its uncompromising vision of how a car should look, perform, and feel."

The site further declares: "That restless ingenuity is at the core of every car that bears the Lotus badge. And it leads the vital shift to electric drive technology, pioneering a new era of sustainable performance.

"It is easy to add more power. But making a car drive like a true Lotus takes passion and courage. It cannot be measured, but it can be felt. Every time you get behind the wheel."