Lotus Appoints Shanfari Automotive As The Official Lotus Cars Dealer I

The appointment of Shanfari Automotive Co LLC (trading under the name Shanfari Lotus) demonstrates Lotus' further commitment to the growing Middle East market. Shanfari Lotus will also offer performance car track training courses (from 2011) for owners to learn to drive their Lotus sportscar in a track environment and to prepare them for the new GCC Lotus Cup races starting next year.

Shanfari Lotus is based in Muscat and will have dealership and service facilities in Al Khuwair initially, with further locations in the future.

Shanfari Lotus has joined Lotus at a very exciting time with the fabulous new multi-award winning Lotus Evora joining the iconic Lotus Elise and Lotus Exige in its product portfolio together the ultra-light weight track use only Lotus 2-Eleven.

Andreas Prillmann, Chief Commercial Officer for Lotus Cars said, "We consider Shanfari Lotus with its passion for, and experience in, hand built British Sportscars as the ideal organisation to develop a prosperous business together with Lotus Cars Limited in Oman."

Sheikh Nizar Said Ahmed Al Shanfari, Vice-President, Sports Division, Shanfari Automotive, commented: "Our strategy for the Lotus brand is to capitalise on its heritage and the unique product offering. We aim to satisfy a niche of customers in the market for whom the Lotus brand will have huge appeal. This market shows strong affinity for sports cars and their performance both on the race track as well as the road."

"Given the success enjoyed by Shanfari Automotive and the experience gained over the years in the retailing and marketing of premium and luxury niche sports car brands, we see our company as being well placed to give the Lotus brand the strongest opportunity in Oman and as such, the brand will benefit from our high standards of customer service and aftersales support, providing an optimum platform to launch the Lotus brand in the Sultanate."

The first shipment of Lotus models has arrived in Oman in preparation for the launch of Shanfari Lotus on 19 April 2010.