The King has been seen using a new electric Lotus at his Sandringham estate in Norfolk, adding another vehicle to his multimillion-pound collection. The bespoke Lotus Eletre, finished in the traditional Royal Claret livery used on other state cars, is understood to have been paid for privately by the monarch.
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Lotus describes the Eletre as an all-electric “hyper-SUV”, with the high-performance 900 model offering a range of up to 319 miles and a 900-horsepower electric motor. While the vehicle was custom-built at a specialist facility in Norfolk, its components were manufactured in China, reflecting the brand’s international supply chain.
The choice of an electric vehicle aligns with the King’s long-standing commitment to environmental causes and reinforces his public support for sustainable transport. Lotus’s ownership structure has evolved in recent years, following the merger of its British sports car operations with its Chinese electric vehicle business under parent company Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.
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The development comes amid wider political attention on UK–China relations. Sir Keir Starmer is due to visit China later this month, accompanied by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, in an effort to strengthen economic ties. The trip follows Labour’s approval of planning permission for a controversial Chinese embassy in London, despite warnings from security officials and concerns expressed by both British intelligence agencies and the United States.
