Lotus to debut its first plug-in hybrid in 2026

After the British Geely-owned brand Lotus revised its strategy in late 2024 to transition into a fully electric brand by 2028, Lotus CEO Qingfeng Feng announced during a conference call on the company’s latest financial results that its first plug-in hybrid model will enter the Chinese market in the first quarter of 2026, followed by a European launch in the second half of the same year.

Qingfeng Feng did not reveal the model’s name but suggested it would be an SUV. Lotus already offers the battery-electric Eletre SUV, though it could theoretically adapt other models from within the Geely Group. However, this seems unlikely, as recently spotted camouflaged Eletre prototypes in China featured an additional fuel filler flap and a rear exhaust.

According to a report by CarNewsChina, the first Lotus PHEV, like the battery-electric version of the Eletre, will utilise a 900-volt system and achieve a combined range of 1,100 kilometres under China’s CLTC cycle. Further details about the powertrain remain unconfirmed.

The Chinese portal speculated that, given Lotus’s affiliation with Geely, the internal combustion component of the powertrain is likely to come from Horse Powertrain, the combustion engine joint venture between Geely, Renault, and Aramco. Horse Powertrain already offers a suitable engine—a 205 kW four-cylinder unit designated DHE20TDE. This two-litre turbocharged engine is reportedly already used in the plug-in hybrid Zeekr 9X in China. Its top version delivers 1,030 kW of power with three electric motors and is available with two battery options (50 or 70 kWh).

In the first nine months of 2024, Lotus delivered 4,612 vehicles worldwide, with 46% sold in China. This represents a decline compared to the same period last year. Lotus attributes the drop to its current model transition phase, inventory reduction efforts, and tariffs. According to CEO Qingfeng Feng, the upcoming plug-in hybrid will mark an “important milestone in the company’s strategy”.

Update 8 December 2025

The Geely brand Lotus is applying for approval in China for its first plug-in hybrid under the name ‘For Me’. As expected, this is the first PHEV variant of the previously all-electric Eletre SUV model.

The ‘For Me’ model uses a two-litre turbocharged engine with an output of 205 kW. This powertrain comes from Horse Powertrain. Lotus combines the combustion engine with an unspecified electric drive. However, this is said to be the same drive configuration as in the Zeekr 9X Hyper, which delivers the already mentioned system output of 1,030 kW. The sprint from zero to 100 kph is set to take under three seconds. Top speed stands at 230 kph.

A 70 kWh NMC battery from the CATL–Geely joint venture provides electric propulsion. It is said to charge from 20 to 80 per cent in eight minutes and 21 seconds. The electric range is expected to be between 345 and 355 kilometres under the Chinese CLTC cycle.

carnewschina.com, carnewschina.com, carnewschina.com (both update)

This article was first published by Sebastian Schaal for electrive’s German edition.