Lotus all set to bloom amid Delhi’s congested and contaminated roads

Lotus, the historic British car brand, is set to make its mark in India, the largest car market in Asia. With a legacy spanning over seven and a half decades, Lotus has been revered worldwide for its exceptional performance and luxurious sports cars. The brand is now poised to capture the hearts of Indian car enthusiasts with the launch of two retail models, the Eletre SUV and the Emira sports car, at its first-ever Indian sales outlet, The Lotus Centre, in New Delhi.

Lotus has earned a reputation for crafting exceptionally performant cars that are among the lightest in the sports car segment. The brand’s roadsters have often been compared to iconic models like the Porsche 911 and the Chevrolet Corvette. Lotus has successfully combined luxury with exhilarating speed in its compact yet powerful vehicles.

To establish its presence in the Indian market, Lotus has partnered with Exclusive Motors. Satya Bagla, the Managing Director of Exclusive Motors, shared valuable insights ahead of the brand’s launch, saying ‘Lotus is at the very top end of the electric car market in terms of product and price. So, one has to explain to the customer the emotion behind it – the real value behind it. Also, customers need to know the brand is here for good and there is a proper home for it. So, once you walk in, it’s the whole brand experience that starts from the showroom, and then the product, and then the after-sales service.’

India’s electric vehicle (EV) landscape has been dominated by Chinese carmaker BYD, particularly in the national capital. However, the market remains somewhat perplexing, with EV car sales experiencing a decline in the past quarter. While classic car enthusiasts may struggle to imagine a world without internal combustion engines (ICE) and the thrill of revving up, the reality is that major metropolises like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Kolkata are grappling with choking pollution on a daily basis.

Despite the challenges, new car brands continue to enter the highly competitive EV market, with the latest addition being the Tata Curvv EV from a homegrown manufacturer. As Lotus prepares to make its mark in India, it will be fascinating to see what the brand can offer in the near future and how it will navigate the evolving EV landscape in the country.