The Lotus Eletre PHEV will debut in China in January 2026, the company’s CEO hinted. This model will start sales in the Middle Kingdom in the first quarter. In H1 2026, the plug-in hybrid Lotus Eletre will launch in Europe, following the brand’s strategic shift towards PHEVs.
Lotus experienced a sales drop this year as its deliveries from January to September slid by 40%, according to the company’s unaudited Q3 report. In the first nine months of the year, Lotus sold 4,612 cars globally, with China occupying 46% of the share. Company officials shared that this drop represents a transitional period characterized by tariff impact, gradual destocking, and phased commencement of upgraded models deliveries.
Lotus CEO Qingfeng Feng commented on the Q3 report, adding that the upcoming PHEV marks an important milestone in the company’s strategy. According to Autohome, Qingfeng Feng shared more information about the brand’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle during an earnings conference call on November 24, 2025.
Lotus Eletre PHEV to debut in China
Lotus CEO shared during an earnings conference call that the brand will add plug-in hybrid models to its existing lineup, with the first PHEV debuting in January 2026. It will officially enter the Chinese market in the first quarter, followed by the European launch in the second half of 2026. Qingfeng Feng didn’t share the name of this model. However, according to his description, it is an SUV.
CarNewsChina expects the new model to be the plug-in hybrid version of the Lotus Eletre. It was spotted during road tests in China in September this year. In November, the Eletre PHEV was once again spotted near one of the Lotus stores in China. It could be recognized by a fuel door and a charging port cover in the rear fenders, and an exhaust pipe behind the rear bumper.
It was previously revealed that the Lotus-branded plug-in hybrids will share the same 900V high-voltage system and a mixed range of around 1,100 km. Bearing in mind that Lotus is a Geely-owned company, it will most likely adopt powertrain elements from Horse Powertrain. It is a joint venture between Geely, Renault, and Aramco.
This company has recently started manufacturing the DHE20TDE 2-liter turbocharged engine dedicated to PHEV systems. It has a peak power of 205 kW (275 hp) and a thermal efficiency of 46%. Previously, the Zeekr 9X became the first car to adopt this engine. Its top-trim level has three e-motors for 1,030 kW (1,381 hp). This large 5.2-meter SUV with three rows of seats speeds up to 100 km/h in 3.1 seconds. It is available with two battery options for 50 kWh and 70 kWh.
