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Lotus Technology has shared its Q4 and full 2023 financial results, relaying steady revenue growth alongside business expansions and further progress in becoming a 100% electric brand. Better still, Lotus expects much more growth in 2024.

Lotus Technology is a Geely-owned sports car manufacturer that recently went public via SPAC merger under the ticker symbol $LOT. In recent years, Lotus has vowed to go all-electric by 2028 as part of its Vision80 strategy. To do so, the automaker is utilizing a new $1.2 billion factory in China to bolster annual EV sales outputs from 5,000 units per year to 150,000 in that same time frame.

That process truly began in 2023, when Lotus launched the Eletre, its very first lifestyle battery electric vehicle. It has since been followed by the all-electric Evija and Emeya, which are just starting to reach initial customers.

Combined with the Eletre’s early success, Lotus has optimistic growth estimates for 2024 as it delves further into the all-electric segment. Let’s take a look at last year’s numbers.

Lotus electric
Source: Lotus Technology

Lotus electric vehicles contribute 15% gross profit margins

Per a detailed release from Lotus Technology today, it recorded revenue of $679 million in 2023, which was bolstered by growing sales of its new lifestyle battery electric vehicles. By scaling asset-light EV production in China, Lotus is reporting a gross profit margin of 15% for last year as well.

2023 vehicle deliveries were 6,970, an annual record in its 76-year history, but still quite a ways from its 150,000 annual unit goal set for less than five years from now. What is enocuraghin however, is that fully-electric models represented 63% of those total Lotus deliveries.

In Q4 2023 alone, vehicle deliveries were 3,749, representing a quarter-over-quarter increase of 110%. Must of that success and growth in the second half of 2023 came from scaled production and expanded sales of the previously mentioned Eletre EV. In 2024, with two additional all-electric models in its portfolio, Lotus expands to see even more significant growth. Per the release:

2024 will be a pivotal year for Lotus Tech’s execution of its Vision80 Strategy, as the Company further ramps up global deliveries of its leading product portfolio in new markets. In March 2024, the Company began deliveries of Emeya, its first electric hyper-grand tourer. Emeya deliveries are now underway in China, and expected to begin in Europe in the third quarter of 2024. The Company’s Eletre hyper-SUV is also set to enter more markets including the U.S. over the course of 2024. In 2024, the Company expects to increase its total deliveries about threefold to 26,000, and further grow its healthy gross margin to 17-19%.

You can check out the full webcast of Lotus’ 2023 financial results call here. https://ir.group-lotus.com/.

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Porsche’s EV sales took a hit last year, but the electric Macan sparks hope

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Porsche's EV sales took a hit last year, but the electric Macan sparks hope

Although sales of Porsche’s first EV, the Taycan, fell nearly 50% in 2024, things could be looking up for the sports car maker. After its “launch literally electrified us,” the electric Porsche Macan may spark a comeback this year.

Why did Porsche’s EV sales drop in 2024?

Porsche delivered over 310,700 vehicles globally last year, or about 9,500 less than in 2023. Sales in China led the downfall, plunging 28% from the prior year amid a wave of low-cost domestic EVs entering the market.

In total, Porsche delivered 20,836 Taycan EVs to customers last year, down 49% from 2023. The lower total comes after launching the upgraded 2025 Taycan last year. Porsche also said, “The ramp-up of electric mobility is generally proceeding more slowly than planned” as part of the reason.

In its largest sales market, North America, Porsche delivered over 86,500 vehicles in 2024. Although that’s up a mere 1% from 2023, Porsche’s EV sales also took a hit.

Porsche sold 4,747 Taycan models in the US last year, 37% fewer than in 2023. The 2025 model began arriving at US dealerships last Summer, which helped push sales up nearly 75% in the fourth quarter to 2,358.

Porsche's-EV-sales-2024
2025 Porsche Taycan (Source: Porsche)

Meanwhile, Porsche’s second EV, the electric Macan, could have an even bigger impact. After delivering the first models at the end of September, Porsche delivered 18,278 electric Macans by the end of 2024.’

“This launch literally electrified us. I am therefore particularly pleased that more than 18,000 examples of the all-electric variant have already been delivered,” Porsche AG board member for sales and marketing, Detlev von Platen, said.

Porsche's-EV-sales-2024
Porsche Macan Electric (Source: Porsche)

Porsche sold 2,771 electric Macan SUVs in the US last year. On a call with reporters (via Automotive News), the company’s North American CEO, Timo Resch, said, “A lot of the consumers that come into the Macan Electric are [new to the] brand.”

Electrek’s Take

I’m not here to say the electric Macan will be Porsche’s savior, but the strong sales start is promising. Porsche has already backtracked on plans for 80% of deliveries to be electric by 2030.

According to recent reports, the electric Cayenne, due out in 2026, could be delayed depending on market demand. The upcoming 718 Cayman and Boxster EVs could also face delays as Porsche plans to keep gas and hybrid models alive longer than expected.

Looking ahead, Porsche also plans to introduce an ultra-luxury electric SUV to sit above the Cayenne, codenamed “K1” internally. It’s expected to compete with Range Rover and Ferrari’s first electric SUVs.

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Elon Musk complains Tesla is not getting subsidies for electric truck chargers while calling for end of EV subsidies

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Elon Musk complains Tesla is not getting subsidies for electric truck chargers while calling for end of EV subsidies

Elon Musk complains that Tesla is not getting subsidies for its electric truck chargers while calling for the end of electric vehicle subsidies in the US.

Earlier this week, the Biden administration released the last round of funding for electric vehicle charging stations before the President leaves office.

Tesla has been trying to secure part of that funding for its TESSERACT project, which was first announced in 2023 to create a corridor of 9 charging stations for electric trucks between California and Texas.

However, it wasn’t included in any round of funding, including the latest one announced this week, which should be the latest now that Trump is getting into office and campaigned on ending electric vehicle subsidies.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk contributed more than $240 million to get Trump elected and supported his goal of removing subsidies for electric vehicles.

That’s why it’s surprising to see Musk comment on the news in disappointment. He wrote on X: “Hear we go again (sigh)”.

While this specific project wasn’t funded, 49 other projects shared over $600 million in funding that will deploy more than 11,500 EV charging ports across 27 states, four federally recognized tribes, and the District of Columbia.

Also, while Tesla didn’t get any funding in this round, Tesla has received millions in funding for its charging stations in the previous round.

Electrek’s Take

I think that’s fair. If you are actively lobbying for the end of EV subsidies in the US, a market that is far behind the rest of the world in EV adoption, why should the administration that is investing in correcting that give you the subsidies you are trying to end?

It makes no sense. That’s why I also support California in signaling that if the Federal government removes its EV subsidies, it will replace them at the state level, but Tesla will be left out.

It’s especially fair considering Elon has made it clear that the reason he wants to kill EV subsidies, which Tesla was the biggest beneficiary of, is that he believes it will put more pressure on the competition than Tesla and potentially kill them while only Tesla will remain.

He basically wants to pull the ladder that Tesla used to get where it is now to prevent others from using it.

“Subsidies for me, not for thee” – Elon’s new motto.

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New York is now coming for your fast and heavy electric bikes

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New York is now coming for your fast and heavy electric bikes

The US electric bike industry has already seen a regulation-heavy start to 2025. Now, New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s potential new restrictions on fast and exceedingly heavy electric bikes could add to the proposed and enacted legislation we’ve seen lately.

Hochul proposed in her State of the State address yesterday that Class 3 electric bikes weighing over 100 lb (45 kg) be excluded from existing electric bicycle regulations and instead be treated more like mopeds.

That would mean imposing motor vehicle regulations resulting in licensing and registration requirements, as well as disallowing their use in bike lanes.

The governor explained that this new regulation would ideally help increase the safety of bike lanes, according to Streetsblog NYC.

wallke h6 electric bike

As a reminder, Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes can reach a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) on motor power, with Class 2 e-bikes including a throttle that allows motor use without requiring the pedals to be used. In most states, Class 3 e-bikes can reach higher speeds of up to 28 mph (45 km/h) with pedal assist but not throttle. However, New York State has stricter Class 3 limits that provide for speeds up to just 25 mph (40 km/h).

The proposed new regulations would only target Class 3 e-bikes that exceed the suggested weight limit of 100 lb (45 kg).

Most electric bikes weigh well under 100 lb (45 kg). Common e-bikes seen regularly on US streets and bike lanes weigh between 50-75 lb (23 to 34 kg). However, there are some e-bike models available on the market that can reach or exceed 100 lb (45 kg). We’ve tested a few of them.

Such heavy electric bikes are usually visually similar to mopeds and light electric motorcycles, often featuring large tires, heavy motors, dual suspension, chunky frames, and other components that add significant weight. However, many heavy electric bicycles are limited to 20 mph (32 km/h), and could exceed the arbitrary 100 lb (45 kg) proposed limit while still not falling under this proposed regulation due to their Class 2 designation.

Dual motors, dual batteries, extra chunky, but still under 100 lb

Electrek’s Take

At face value, there’s some logic to this. A 100 lb electric bike has a lot more rolling mass than a 50 lb electric bike, and you can guess which one I’d rather get hit by. Though at the same time, when the rider nearly always weighs more than the vehicle, the weight of the e-bike certainly has a lower relevance to its safety. With a 200 lb (91 kg) rider on both bikes, we’re only talking about a relatively small 20% difference in mass.

And it’s a bit telling that there wasn’t much discussion in the State of the State address about any other road safety issues, certainly not about the several thousand-pound cars that actually kill many New Yorkers every year.

I’m not saying I don’t support reasonable regulations to ensure the safety of everyone, in the bike lanes and outside of them. But let’s get real here. The percentage of electric bikes that are 100+ lb is tiny, likely under 1-2% of all e-bikes on the road. And that’s a tiny slice of an entire pie that is itself a tiny slice of the injury-causing-vehicle pie. So I’m not saying there isn’t any good regulation opportunity out there for e-bikes. But this is all fluff on top of fluff if you think it’s actually about making a meaningful impact on road safety. If they really cared about better protecting cyclists, governments would enforce existing laws to prevent cars from killing them so frequently.

These types of clumsy, heavy-handed regulations are just that – quick and dirty attempts to appear to be working towards a solution, when in fact they are largely meaningless in their ultimate impact on protecting lives.

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