Group Lotus has appointed former Volvo world advertising and marketing chief Mike Johnstone to steer the efficiency model’s industrial operations, the corporate mentioned.

Johnstone has already taken up the London-based put up, reporting to Group Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng.

Johnstone joined Volvo in 2017 as head of the model’s UK advertising and marketing operations earlier than shifting to supervise its world advertising and marketing.

Each Volvo and Lotus are majority owned by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.

Johnstone will oversee a brand new division that mixes gross sales, aftersales, model and public relations capabilities. As head, he will probably be accountable for all product strains throughout all territories, Lotus mentioned.

Lotus Group is the broader firm overseeing divisions such because the UK-based Lotus Vehicles, which makes and sells the model’s sports activities vehicles, and Lotus Know-how, which is accountable for making the corporate’s electrical “way of life” fashions in China beginning with the brand new Eletre giant SUV.
 

Johnstone’s appointment “marks the start of a brand new period within the transformation of the Lotus model,” the corporate mentioned in a press release.

Lotus has a goal to interrupt 100,000 gross sales by 2028, pushed by the approach to life SUV and sedan fashions.

Eletre deliveries are because of begin early this 12 months. The SUV will probably be adopted this 12 months by a sedan code-named the Kind 133 and what Lotus calls a “groundbreaking” smaller SUV in 2025.

The Kind 135 electrical sports activities automotive developed with Renault Group subsidiary Alpine is slated to reach in 2026.