WTF?! Evora Production Halted Temporarily Due to "Airbag Exemption"?

[GuppyCaptain]

First, let me start out by doing this..........



There, I feel better now but only slightly. Here is part of a communication I just received from a Lotus rep in Norwich:

"Lotus is waiting for a airbag waiver from the US authorities to enable cars to be built – the Evora does not use ‘smart airbags’ and so due to our low sales volumes, we can apply for an exemption waiver, but as of yet, we have not had approval and so we are unable to build any US bound products. We are expecting confirmation any time now, but until we receive it, we cannot provide build date information, I am sorry."

Am I missing something here? Are there not over 800 of these cars already in the U.S.? Does an airbag exemption have to be renewed annually? Honestly, wtf?

I'm getting more and more paranoid that my short Pennsylvania driving season will be even shorter this year due to the vehicle not being delivered as quoted.

[Julian73]

Originally Posted by GuppyCaptain

Am I missing something here? Are there not over 800 of these cars already in the U.S.? Does an airbag exemption have to be renewed annually? Honestly, wtf?

Yes, welcome to the government ... year by year.

[Allan Gibbs]

Are there any 2013 Evora S' currently in dealers that would interest you?

Originally Posted by GuppyCaptain

First, let me start out by doing this..........



There, I feel better now but only slightly. Here is part of a communication I just received from a Lotus rep in Norwich:

"Lotus is waiting for a airbag waiver from the US authorities to enable cars to be built – the Evora does not use ‘smart airbags’ and so due to our low sales volumes, we can apply for an exemption waiver, but as of yet, we have not had approval and so we are unable to build any US bound products. We are expecting confirmation any time now, but until we receive it, we cannot provide build date information, I am sorry."

Am I missing something here? Are there not over 800 of these cars already in the U.S.? Does an airbag exemption have to be renewed annually? Honestly, wtf?

I'm getting more and more paranoid that my short Pennsylvania driving season will be even shorter this year due to the vehicle not being delivered as quoted.

[GuppyCaptain]

Probably not. I'm pretty picky about colors and options. Besides, I've already got a deposit down so for now I'll just have to cross my fingers that this gets fixed soon.

[Dylan]

Why didn't Lotus also continue to seek an exemption on the Elige?

[martinm1]

This is why the Elise and Exige are no longer for sale here. They were unable to obtain the waiver and not able to find an airbag that would fit and meet the new standards. I had assumed the Evora met the standards vs having gotten a waiver. Might be good for somebody like Abe from Newport Lotus to chime in on this with accurate information.

[keatre]

Originally Posted by Dylan

Why didn't Lotus also continue to seek an exemption on the Elige?

They ran a cost/benefit analysis.

[fitfan]

Originally Posted by Dylan

Why didn't Lotus also continue to seek an exemption on the Elige?

i believe they did, and thats why they were allowed to sell it here for so long with all the exemptions.

[Dylan]

Originally Posted by keatre

They ran a cost/benefit analysis.

makes sense. Since I can't sell $55k cars, I might as well not sell $85k cars. At least I am not selling less of them.

[Ron Avery]

That sucks, It is worth the wait. Trust me I know, I ordered my car in April of 2010. The car was built the last week of June and the first week of July.
It was shipped two weeks later. It was first shipped to China, then it was off loaded from the first ship and sat on the dock for three weeks. Then it was loaded onto another ship to Long Beach California. It arrived in Long beach the last week in September. Then it was loaded (still in it's container) on a truck to San Diego. Lotus did rush the car for me once it arrived ib San Diego, the car made it to the dealer in one week (the second week of October). I later found out that Lotus will ship the car, air freight from the UK to the USA. It is around $8 K.
Once I got my Evora it was well worth the wait. I do know what you are going through however, hang in there.
Ron

[Asulil]

i found this : kinda interesting: the exemption is for two years. But accordingto this document the evora does has advanced airbags. (EDIT: ALthough it seems the evora's airbags still do not meet or pass a certain test). They seemed to be filing for the new elise, not the evora.


http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011...2011-14180.pdf

[Asulil]

this is more recent and more relevant:

http://saferoads.org/files/2012-08-0...86%20FINAL.pdf


This document is well worth the read. They slam Lotus.

[Asulil]

Originally Posted by GuppyCaptain

First, let me start out by doing this..........



There, I feel better now but only slightly. Here is part of a communication I just received from a Lotus rep in Norwich:

"Lotus is waiting for a airbag waiver from the US authorities to enable cars to be built – the Evora does not use ‘smart airbags’ and so due to our low sales volumes, we can apply for an exemption waiver, but as of yet, we have not had approval and so we are unable to build any US bound products. We are expecting confirmation any time now, but until we receive it, we cannot provide build date information, I am sorry."

Am I missing something here? Are there not over 800 of these cars already in the U.S.? Does an airbag exemption have to be renewed annually? Honestly, wtf?

I'm getting more and more paranoid that my short Pennsylvania driving season will be even shorter this year due to the vehicle not being delivered as quoted.

are you waiting on a front seat version only? It seems the exemption doesnt apply to the 2+2?

[Asulil]

Well my 2 cents:

After reading the second document I posted in full and Lotus petition for an extension, I m going to go with the government on this one. I think if you read the second document that it is pretty damning.

[Asulil]

Originally Posted by Dylan

makes sense. Since I can't sell $55k cars, I might as well not sell $85k cars. At least I am not selling less of them.

If you read the second document I posted Lotus says it will cost about $4.5 million reducing their expected profit but not making them unprofitable. The document also makes clear that the cost of "smart" airbags has dramatically declined in recent years.

[Uncle Sam]

Originally Posted by Asulil

this is more recent and more relevant:

http://saferoads.org/files/2012-08-0...86%20FINAL.pdf


This document is well worth the read. They slam Lotus.

Who the F*** are these Ass*****? Some IIHS front organization?

I looked it up and the answer is yes.

[Julian73]

Originally Posted by Asulil

this is more recent and more relevant:

http://saferoads.org/files/2012-08-0...86%20FINAL.pdf


This document is well worth the read. They slam Lotus.

"They" being a self proclaimed "consumer" rights organization, a lobbyist group, that would just as willingly ask the government to outlaw any car that can go over 85 mph.
FYI any law proposal or request for exception as in this case is published daily in the CFR, there is a mandatory public review period for comments such as this crap from advocates. Believe it or not the government does not take such letters as an absolute unless some congressman just received a nice campaign donation from such group.

[Asulil]

Lotus comments to the second document:

In this document Lotus states that they are only asking for a very narrow exemption, and that they plan to be fully compliant by MY2015. From the docket (go to: regulations.gov and the docket no. is :NHTSA-2012-0086) that there has been no ruling as of yet. Only the advocacy group had comments. Lotus's reply seemed calm and measured. They spoke of recent management shake-ups, their inability to use bank financing for the Evora, the losses (those are deleted), and the fact that they intend to be compliant by MY2015. I think it would be hard for the agency not to give an exemption. If they fail to give them an exemption however - my guess is that will trigger enough covenants in their loan agreements that it would cause significant strain.

[Chhirowolf]

Originally Posted by Julian73

"They" being a self proclaimed "consumer" rights organization, a lobbyist group, that would just as willingly ask the government to outlaw any car that can go over 85 mph.
FYI any law proposal or request for exception as in this case is published daily in the CFR, there is a mandatory public review period for comments such as this crap from advocates. Believe it or not the government does not take such letters as an absolute unless some congressman just received a nice campaign donation from such group.

Agreed. If you take thier side we would all being driving huge cars at 20mph.
Little cars (fiat 500, mini cooper etc) would be out lawed because large trucks and cars can run them over.
Case in point. The fiat 500 get a top crash ratings, but very low safety rating due to small size.
should we outlaw them too?

[David Craig]

That document was interesting to read. Thanks for posting.

That rights group seems to be unaware of Lotus' financial situation. For sales of only 100 cars a year in the US, I think the rights group should back off.

On the other hand if Lotus were selling 1000 cars a year in the US it would probably be good to force them to compy with the newer air bag standard.