Lotus lands key role in China

UK-based Lotus Engineering will become the lead engineering and development consultant for Jinhua Youngman Automobile Manufacturing Company (Youngman), which is launching a new range of cars under a new brand name over the next five years.

Youngman, a Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer, has recently secured a license from the Chinese authorities to produce passenger vehicles. The company said that it has aggressive plans for the Youngman new brand in the domestic and export market and plans to have a four-strong range of models in place within five years of the first launch. Lotus confirmed that it will begin work on the first model for Youngman, a four-door saloon, in early 2007. Albert Lam, managing director of Lotus, said: For the last two and a half years, Lotus Engineering has been working with Youngman on a number of projects. He added: We will be working with Youngman's engineers on the design and development of new vehicles to help them to establish their new brand in the Chinese automotive industry. Pang Qingnian, chairman of Youngman, said: Lotus Engineering is a globally recognized leader in automotive technology. As a result Youngman identified Lotus Engineering as the ideal consultants to support the development of our new range of cars over the next five years.