23 October 2007

Lotus Engineering opens dedicated office in Japan

Lotus Engineering anticipates a threefold increase in work from the Japanese market this year compared to 2006/7.

Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer for Group Lotus plc said: “With Japanese companies at the forefront of the automotive industry, we foresee increasing opportunities for our world-class engineering and technologies in that market. The new representative office is a very positive commitment to delivering the very best service to our clients in Japan as our work there grows. I would like to welcome Mr Hori to the Lotus family and look forward to his contribution in building on Lotus Engineering’s extensive history of client consultancy work in Japan.”

Mr Hori (44) is a Japanese national and has spent his career to date in automotive engineering in his home country. He began his career as a project engineer with ESTECH Corporation, an engineering services provider in Yokohama, and then with AVL Japan as a senior engineer.

Fluent in English as a second language, Mr Hori holds a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Sophia University in Tokyo. He is married with a daughter.

Mr Hori is looking forward to his new challenges: “I am excited about the opportunities for me to drive forward the Lotus Engineering business in Japan, where the company is very well respected for its core strengths in the development of efficient performance, exciting niche vehicles and driving dynamics.

“I am very grateful for the warm welcome my colleagues have given me, and I look forward to building on past successes and contributing to an even more successful future for the Lotus Engineering business.”

Hiroyuki Hori joined Lotus on 1 May 2007.

Contact details for Lotus Engineering’s representative office in Tokyo, Japan:

Hiroyuki Hori
Business Development Manager, Lotus Engineering (Japan)
1-11-7-1108, Higashikanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0031, Japan
Email: hhori.lotuscars@grace.ocn.ne.jp
Mobile: +81 80-2020-0464
Tel & Fax: +81 3-6427-6954

Lotus Cars in Japan
Lotus cars are imported into Japan by LCI, based in Tokyo. With 28 dealers throughout Japan, Lotus is expanding its customer base with the Elise, Europa and Exige range and in 2009 will introduce the next new Lotus, Project Eagle. The key market of Japan accounts for nearly 20% of the total worldwide sales for Lotus Cars.