According to the UK's Autocar Lotus won't build the upcoming Europa coupe and other models in one of the Malaysian plants owned by parent Proton. Instead, the center of Lotus's production will remain in the Hethel plant where Lotuses have been built for some forty years. Rumors circulating for the past year indicated Lotus was planning to shift production of some cars — including the next-generation Esprit V8, Europa and new Elise-based GT — to Malaysia, presumably for cost savings and to ease a ramp-up into Asian markets. Now, according to AC, the company is bringing the production materials that have already been moved to Malaysia back to the UK, including fixtures and kegs of Guiness. Still, despite the inauspicious return, the Europa is reportedly set to launch in early 2006.

Europa stays in Europe [Autocar]

Related:
More Info on the Upcoming Lotus Europa [internal]

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