Lotus reassures business secretary it has no plans to shut Norfolk factory

Jonathan Reynolds contacted sports car maker after it emerged it was considering moving production from UK to US

Lotus has reassured the UK business secretary at an urgent meeting on Sunday that it has no intention of shutting its Norfolk factory, as the British sports car maker prepares to resume production as US tariffs are reduced.

Jonathan Reynolds contacted Lotus bosses after it emerged that the carmaker was considering ending production of its sports cars in the UK and moving it to the US - a move that would jeopardise 1,300 jobs. Lotus's Chinese owner, Geely, was thought to be looking at options including manufacturing its Emira sports car in the US, and permanently stopping production at its factory in Hethel, Norfolk.