GM Enters a Bidding War Against VW and Others For Lotus Parent

Malaysia’s state owned Proton has been losing market share to a host of international competitors as well as Malaysia’s own Naza and Perodua Motors. Its market value is at an all time low, so it comes as little surprise that there are several major carmakers interested in bidding for the company, including General Motors which is reported to be planning a bid of its own. GM would join Volkswagen AG and PSA Peugeot Citroen which are also reported to be preparing their own bids.

Proton has a major controlling arm in the UK’s Lotus, so any manufacturer that gets its hands on the Malaysian carmaker will be able to exploit the talents of the maker of some of the best handling cars on the planet.


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silverarrow2 - 1/10/2007 9:58:02 AM

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I think Honda should concider a bid.

Perhaps that will help the Acura brand. And maybe they might get better designers, because these concepts are monstrously ugly.

mrspeedmaster - 1/10/2007 1:19:02 PM

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Honda make mostly FWD cars. That would be a joke if they tried to integrate Lotus.

IamEvilHomer - 1/10/2007 2:51:29 PM

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GM wants to destroy another brand huh?

SilverAero - 1/10/2007 3:52:17 PM

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I wonder what this could mean for lotus. I just hope lotus doesn't get diluted.

1970toyotamarc - 1/10/2007 3:57:22 PM

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This is the kind of news I come to this site for. Can you imagine the possibilities if either GM or VW gets Lotus. Assuming no one gets too badge engineering happy (GM or VW would never do that), spreading Lotus technology about will lead to some exciting cars. Thank you 009 for posting some real Autospies news.

rocker - 1/10/2007 5:21:29 PM

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Agree

bmwdrvr - 1/10/2007 7:58:33 PM

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gm has already been doing this, the vauxhall vx220 was a rebadged lotus elise, with a new front and rear. plus the old lotus opel omega, which was very fast that competed with the m5, and e500

S4cabriofoxone - 1/10/2007 6:15:37 PM

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VW has been considering buying (or simply allying with) Lotus for years, for numerous sports cars. It would be yet another exotic brand in their fleet- and, obviously, they truly do know how to bring an exotic brand to greatness. Look at Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti.

I think they're better suited to Lotus than GM. I really don't think GM should be thinking about buying other car brands right now; they should be considering cutting off their own. They need to make money- and Lotus isn't profitable, is it? VW would be able to reconstruct their product line (with some help from Porsche and Audi) and bring them to profitability, but I think GM would struggle with Lotus in its clutches.

IamEvilHomer - 1/11/2007 4:16:38 AM

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Lotus has had some cars with the 1.8T Audi engine

muzz88 - 1/11/2007 10:23:45 AM

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Sorry to burst your bubble, but this bidding war is not for Lotus! I don't know about GM, but VW is looking at buying a controling stake in the Manufacturing operations of Proton, not the holding company (which would include Lotus) I doubt GM could get it either because it's largely owned by the Malaysian state, and they have said they don't want to sell it off!

S4cabriofoxone - 1/11/2007 10:29:48 PM

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Proton owns Lotus, and VW would do a project with them.