Kuala Lumpur, 9 August 2025 — Lotus is set to shake up its leadership structure by appointing Chinese executive Mao Jingbo to oversee its UK and global operations, following the sudden departure of Matt Windle, who served just four months as CEO of Lotus Europe.
According to insider sources, Windle’s exit comes as the company explores shifting sports car manufacturing out of the UK in a bold cost-cutting strategy aimed at reversing prolonged financial losses. Talks have reportedly been held with the Labour government about moving production from Lotus’s historic Hethel base in Norfolk, UK.
Leadership Transition at Lotus
Mao Jingbo, currently President of Lotus China, is expected to officially replace Windle. She joined Lotus in 2022 after a distinguished career, which included roles as:
- Head of Asia Pacific & China for US premium brand Lincoln
- Head of Marketing in China for Mercedes-Benz
- Early career beginnings in journalism
This move marks the fourth leadership change in Lotus’s UK and European operations in under two years:
- Mike Johnstone (former Volvo exec) left in August 2024
- Dan Balmer (ex-Aston Martin) served less than a year before Windle took over in April 2025
- Matt Windle now exits in August 2025 after joining Lotus in 2017 and holding several engineering and production roles
A Strategic Shift to Tighten Global Control
Lotus’s decision to appoint a close ally of CEO Feng Qingfeng suggests the brand is seeking tighter oversight on its global operations. The company has been cutting costs aggressively in the UK:
- 270 workers laid off in Hethel (April 2025)
- London staff relocations from premium office spaces
- Transfer of flagship Park Lane, London showroom to dealer group HR Owen
Sales Decline and EV Market Pressures
Lotus experienced a 42% drop in sales during Q1 2025, the first major decline since Geely introduced its all-electric “lifestyle” lineup, including the Eletre SUV and Emeya saloon.
However, a combination of:
- Slower luxury EV demand
- Rising tariffs on China-built EVs in both Europe and the US
has forced Lotus to pivot towards plug-in hybrid models, with the first launch expected later this year.
Geely’s Investment Challenges
Since acquiring Lotus from Malaysia’s Proton in 2017, Geely has invested approximately:
- £2 billion (≈ $2.59 billion USD, ≈ €2.34 billion EUR, ≈ RM12.09 billion MYR, ≈ CN¥18.76 billion CNY)
Despite this, the company remains in the red, reporting:
- Q1 2025 net loss: $183 million USD (≈ £137 million GBP, ≈ €165 million EUR, ≈ RM850 million MYR, ≈ CN¥1.27 billion CNY)
- Debt level: $3.3 billion USD (≈ £2.5 billion GBP, ≈ €2.97 billion EUR, ≈ RM15.34 billion MYR, ≈ CN¥23.28 billion CNY)
