When was Lotus founded?

Lotus dates back to 1948. It is headquartered in Hethel, United Kingdom.

Who has owned Lotus in the past?

Past shareholders include General Motors (1986–1993) and Proton (1996–2017).

Brand · United Kingdom · since 1948

LoWho owns Lotus?

Lotus is owned by Geely (51%). The ultimate parent is headquartered in Hangzhou, China.

HQ Hethel
Founded 1948
Ownership changes tracked 3

See Lotus on the map

Ownership timeline

← rows are shareholders in Lotus. → rows are stakes Lotus held in others. Darker bars mean bigger stakes.

Every stake, year by year

Years	Stake	Who
1986–1993	100%	Owned by General Motors · view 1986 on map
1996–2017	100%	Owned by Proton · view 1996 on map
2017–today	51%	Owned by Geely · view 2017 on map

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Sister brands under Geely

Former owners

Quick answers

Who owns Lotus?: Lotus is owned by Geely (51%). The ultimate parent is headquartered in Hangzhou, China.
When was Lotus founded?: Lotus dates back to 1948. It is headquartered in Hethel, United Kingdom.
Who has owned Lotus in the past?: Past shareholders include General Motors (1986–1993) and Proton (1996–2017).

Stakes are approximate, rounded from public filings and press coverage. Badges are original monograms, not manufacturer logos, and no manufacturer endorses this site. Some links are affiliate links; we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.