Li Shufu sits at the top of the recorded chain. The ownership page sets out every step with its stake and date.

路特斯Lotus

Is Lotus Chinese? Yes

Facts checked 4 September 2026Ownership as of August 2026

Yes

Lotus is Chinese-owned. Geely bought 51% of Group Lotus on 24 May 2017, with Malaysia's Etika Automotive holding 49%, and in August 2026 acquired Etika's remaining stake, folding Lotus Cars into Lotus Technology. Lotus Technology, the electric arm, is headquartered in Wuhan and listed on Nasdaq in February 2024 with about 10.3% of its shares in public hands; sports cars are still built at Hethel in Norfolk while the Eletre and Emeya come from Wuhan.

The chain

The ownership chain behind this answer, owner first.
Step	Entity	Kind	Origin
1	Li Shufu	person	CN
2	Geely Holding	group	CN
3	Lotus	brand	GB

Holding by holding

Li Shufu holds a stake in Lotus Technology Inc. at 28.8% since 22 February 2024.
Lotus Advanced Technology Limited Partnership held 186,648,945 ordinary shares, 28.8%, at 28 February 2026. Its partners act in concert with Ming Jun Holdings Limited, which Li Shufu wholly owns, so he may be deemed to own the whole holding.
Lotus Technology Inc. owns Lotus at 100% since 21 August 2026.
Lotus Technology Inc completed the purchase of 100% of Lotus Advance Technologies Sdn Bhd, which owns the Hethel sports car business and Lotus Engineering, on 21 August 2026, putting the whole Lotus brand under one company.

Former owners

Holdings that have ended. They are here because the story needs them and are never part of the current tree.

Geely Holding formerly held Lotus at 51% from 2017 until 21 August 2026.
Geely Holding's Hong Kong arm, Geely International (Hong Kong) Limited, held 51% of Lotus Advance Technologies Sdn Bhd, the Lotus parent, from the 2017 purchase from DRB-HICOM until 21 August 2026. It exercised a put option on 14 April 2025 requiring Nasdaq-listed Lotus Technology Inc to buy that 51%, and the purchase completed on 21 August 2026. Geely remains Lotus's ultimate controlling interest through Lotus Technology.
Etika Automotive Sdn Bhd formerly held Lotus at 49% from 2017 until 21 August 2026.
Etika Automotive Sdn Bhd bought 49% of Lotus Advance Technologies Sdn Bhd from DRB-HICOM in 2017 and held it until 21 August 2026. It exercised its put option on 30 June 2025 requiring Lotus Technology Inc to buy the stake, and remains a large shareholder in Lotus Technology.
Etika Automotive Sdn Bhd formerly held Lotus at 49% from 24 May 2017 until August 2026.
Etika Automotive of Malaysia held 49% of Group Lotus from May 2017 until Geely bought it out in August 2026. Etika's shareholding is why Lotus was, for nine years, part-Malaysian as well as part-Chinese.

Is Lotus Chinese: the short answers

Is Lotus Chinese?: Yes. Lotus is Chinese-owned. Geely bought 51% of Group Lotus on 24 May 2017, with Malaysia's Etika Automotive holding 49%, and in August 2026 acquired Etika's remaining stake, folding Lotus Cars into Lotus Technology. Lotus Technology, the electric arm, is headquartered in Wuhan and listed on Nasdaq in February 2024 with about 10.3% of its shares in public hands; sports cars are still built at Hethel in Norfolk while the Eletre and Emeya come from Wuhan.
Who owns Lotus?: Li Shufu sits at the top of the recorded chain. The ownership page sets out every step with its stake and date.

Sources for this answer

Wikipedia, Lotus Cars. Read 4 September 2026. Geely's 51% on 24 May 2017, Etika's 49%, the August 2026 buy-out, Lotus Technology's Wuhan base and February 2024 Nasdaq listing.