EV Firm Lotus Tech Slashes Annual Deliveries Forecast as EU, US Tariffs Weigh

British sports car maker Lotus unveils its new fully-electric "Emeya" Hyper-GT in New York City, US, September 7, 2023. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs Purchase Licensing Rights
British sports car maker Lotus unveils its new fully-electric "Emeya" Hyper-GT in New York City, US, September 7, 2023. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs Purchase Licensing Rights
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EV Firm Lotus Tech Slashes Annual Deliveries Forecast as EU, US Tariffs Weigh

British sports car maker Lotus unveils its new fully-electric "Emeya" Hyper-GT in New York City, US, September 7, 2023. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs Purchase Licensing Rights
British sports car maker Lotus unveils its new fully-electric "Emeya" Hyper-GT in New York City, US, September 7, 2023. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs Purchase Licensing Rights

EV firm Lotus Technology slashed its deliveries forecast for the year by more than 50% on Wednesday, citing uncertainty posed by new tariffs in the United States and the European Union.

Import tariffs imposed by the European Union, the United States and Canada on China-made EVs have added pressure on companies manufacturing their vehicles in China, adding to costs.

"After assessment of the evolving market conditions, and uncertainties posed by new tariff policies in US and EU, the company has revised its delivery target for 2024 to 12,000 units," the company said, according to Reuters.

The company is headquartered in the Chinese city of Wuhan and produces cars through a partnership with parent firm Geely .

Lotus Tech, which focuses on all-electric lifestyle vehicles, is part of British sports car maker Lotus Group, which is owned by Chinese automaker Geely and Malaysia's Etika Automotive.

The company was valued at about $7 billion in a deal with a special purpose acquisition company when it went public in February, but its value has since fallen to about $3.8 billion.

After China and Europe, the company began taking orders for the Eletre SUV in markets across the Middle East, Asia and the Americas.

Deliveries for the three months ended June 30 stood at 2,679 units, compared with 2,194 vehicles in the first quarter.

Revenue for the second quarter was $225 million, compared with $111 million a year earlier.

Lotus Tech said its net loss widened to $202 million in the April-June period from $193 million a year earlier.

Its plans to expand and entry into new regions have led to higher selling and marketing expenses, which rose 73% to $204.3 million in the quarter.



EU, China Launch Mechanism to Facilitate Industrial Data Flows

A computer keyboard lit by a displayed cyber code is seen in this illustration picture taken on March 1, 2017. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
A computer keyboard lit by a displayed cyber code is seen in this illustration picture taken on March 1, 2017. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
TT

EU, China Launch Mechanism to Facilitate Industrial Data Flows

A computer keyboard lit by a displayed cyber code is seen in this illustration picture taken on March 1, 2017. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
A computer keyboard lit by a displayed cyber code is seen in this illustration picture taken on March 1, 2017. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

The European Union and China launched the first discussions under a new system that aims to streamline cross-border data flows, the EU said in a statement on Wednesday.

The mechanism aims to facilitate international transfers of non-personal data for European businesses while ensuring their compliance with Chinese data laws, Reuters reported.

"A significant part of the EU-China foreign direct investment stock depends on companies’ ability to manage their data across borders. This is particularly relevant for sectors such as finance and insurance, pharma, automotive, and information and communication technology," the EU said.

Last year, after co-chairing an EU-China High-level Digital Dialogue, the EU had expressed concern about China's data laws, including their "lack of clarity" and the "long processes" that companies have to undergo.