Lotus Sales : 2025 (Q1-Q3)

Lotus Cars has always been a problem child. The issue hasn't been the product. Far from it. It's been about profitability or the lack of. Current owners are Geely (51%) and Etika Automotive (49%), a Chinese-Malaysian collaboration.

The current range consists of the Eletre and Emeya electric SUV/GT,  made in China. The petrol powered Emira and limited volume electric Evija sports cars, made in the UK. 

To the right we can see the last three years of sales, minus one quarter. Things took off in 2023 and continued through 2024. By 2025, orders had been met and a return to relative normality.

A hybrid version of the Eletre SUV is planned for 2026 and that should noticeably lift sales. A hybrid Emira and a smaller SUV are planned for 2027. 

Now looking at models, or more precisely. the two segments they reside in. Comparing Q1-Q3, the Car/SUV grouping is up from 53% to 72%. Both are down in volume and combined that is -40%. 

The sports car side of the business basically revolves around one model and therefore is going to boom with a new model and then fall away to something more reflective of true demand.

As for regions, China has emerged as the largest for Lotus sales, with 46% of the total. It's also the only region that increased. It would be safe to assume that the Car/SUV models would be the main cars sold there, while the sports cars are the more popular elsewhere. 

Data and photo source: Lotus Cars. 

Photos (from the top). Eletre, Emira, Evija and Emeya.

An Entitled Workforce

My grandfather worked his way up in a company to management level in the UK. Having been a worker and in management, he had a perspective on both sides, yet he would often say "The working man's enemy is the working man himself". 

JLR has recently had to contend with tariffs put in place in its largest market. It was more recently hit by a cyber attack that really hurt the company financially. You would think common sense would prevail and the current situation JLR is facing would temper wage increase expectations. 

A pay offer has just been submitted by the company and the trade unions recommended its acceptance. 7,724 workers rejected the offer, with 2,129 accepting it. This is a short sighted, self centred reaction from the majority of the workers. 

I recently wrote an article on the subject generally, which can be read by clicking here. So back to the negotiating table. I would have thought the best thing for JLR would now be to start planning to move all its production off shore. They could make vehicles just about anywhere else at a lower cost. 

The industry is facing increased competition and JLR is under pressure like many other car makers. A shout out to the trade unions for showing some common sense, and the 2,129 workers who are seeing the bigger picture. As for the rest, you are your own worst enemy. 

Bentley Global Deliveries : 2024-25 (Q1-Q3)

Bentley cars have always been and still are known as high-performance, luxury vehicles that are well-crafted, powerful but still retaining a classic elegance. I should have a job at Bentley's media centre. 

After years of exceptional growth, the last couple of years have seen reduced volumes. The heights they reached were probably not sustainable and the current levels are.

After nine consecutive quarters of a reduced number of deliveries, Q3 2025 saw a healthy 24% increase on what was an admittedly poor Q3 2024. Predictions about Q4 2025 sales are difficult with global economic uncertainties but Q4 is usually good for the marque.

Bentley does anticipate a sales increase due to the release of redesigned, high-performance hybrid models of the Continental GT and Flying Spur. However, the current and future focus is on "value over volume".

Models: Continental GT deliveries were 3,356 (+14%), the Bentayga was 2,767 (-20%) and the Flying Spur 1,770 (-18%). The Continental GT contributed 42.5% of the total, the Bentayga 35% and the Flying Spur 22.5%. 

Regions: Europe is the big improver here, up from 23% to 31%. The USA is slightly down but now below Europe. China is off by nearly a quarter and 'Others' are -16%. 

Data source: Audi. Photo source: Bentley. 

Lamborghini Global Deliveries : 2024-25 (Q1-Q3)

Things are going well for Lamborghini. Up 10% in 2023, up 6% in 2024. Down so far in 2025 by 3% but in the current climate a good result. 

Looking to the chart to the right, we see the last two years in quarters. The only negative would be the trend downward over the last two quarters. 

Light at the end of the tunnel could be that Q4 2024 wasn't that strong. We will have to wait and see. 

Models: Urus deliveries were 5,679 (+15%), Revuelto was 1,520 (+8%), Temerario 83 (+69%) and the Huracán just 4 (-99.9%). The Urus contributed 78% of the total. 

Regions: Europe has moved up to 40% of total deliveries. The US and China are both well down which brought the total into negative territory.

I've never really understood the popularity of the marque. Clearly, many see it differently. It certainly has a uniqueness of overstated styling although the new Temerario (photo below) looks more conservative. 

China is one place where Lamborghini isn't that popular. Not a bad thing, as China is increasingly difficult for many overseas brands. 

Data source: Audi. Photo source: Lamborghini.

Audi Global Deliveries : 2024-25 (Q1-Q3)

Audi has been cutting back on volume for a few years now. 1.9 million in 2023, 1.67 million in 2024 and maybe 1.58 million by the end of 2025. 

As we can see to the right, there have been decreases for seven consecutive quarters. 2023 was all quarterly increases. Deliveries are down 5% YTD.

For the 2025 calendar year, Audi has stopped reporting deliveries by model.

Regions: 'Others' are up nicely but everywhere else is down, China and the USA in particular. Overall, not too much variance. 

Production: In Germany it was 455,500 (+10%) and all other countries 747,000 (-12%). Production in China was 416,800 (-11%) and it now second behind Germany in terms of volume. Production in Belgium and Brazil has ended and assembly has commenced in Malaysia. In China there are a few assembly plants but they are now a combined figure. 

Data & photo source: Audi.

Aston Martin Global Deliveries : 2022-25 (Q1-Q3)

Aston Martin is a marque of distinction, not hurt by its connection with the most famous of secret agents. It has also been a company that found profitability to be elusive.

A car company that low volume and labour intensive needs to charge for the exclusivity and quality. There are only so many people buying such cars and there are several vying for customers.

To the right are quarterly deliveries for the past four years. They have been very consistent with Q4 always being an upward spike in volume. 

2025 will need that spike although Aston Martin is focused on a sound business model rather chasing volume to look good. I'd say 2025 will be down but not by too much. 

Regions: All the regions are down with Asia/Pacific the most. China would be the main reason but relying on that market is increasingly challenging for many reasons.

Aston Martin has to deal with tariffs and consumption taxes that exist around the world and they are getting worse and not better. 

Every country claims to be a champion of fair trade but for many countries it is nothing more than hypocritcal posturing. Sometimes trade has to be regulated to balance the books but at other times manipulated to selfishly generate large trade surpluses. This is something that hurts companies like Aston Martin.  

 

Models: Sports cars are holding up well but the DBX SUV a little less so. The Valhalla will be introduced in Q4 of 2025 and Aston Martin hopes to deliver about 150 in Q4 2025 and a further 500 in 2026. The Vanquish Volante, DBX S, Vantage S and Volante 60th Anniversary models are all coming out in late 2025. The DB12 S is planned for the first half of 2026. Plenty of things happening.