It has become known that on December 23, Lotus officially confirmed the signing of a share subscription agreement with Yikatong Technology Holding Company (Yikatong), a global player in travel technology whose shares are traded on Nasdaq under the ticker ECX. As part of the targeted placement, the partner will acquire a stake of 16,788,321 newly issued Lotus ordinary shares. The price per share is set at $11.37, and the total investment will amount to $223 million.
Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng emphasized that Yikatong is viewed as one of the brand’s key allies in rethinking the smart cockpit concept. According to him, as joint projects expand and go global, the parties intend to accelerate the introduction of innovations and the development of the next-generation “smart cockpit” ecosystem.
It is noted that the investment should not merely strengthen current ties, but expand the format of interaction, deepen existing cooperation, and bring the companies closer to a more integrated, strategic partnership at the global level, where the effect will be achieved through synergy.
At the same time, let us recall that on December 9, the new hybrid crossover Lotus Sports Car–Lotus FOR ME was unveiled. The model is announced with a 2.0-liter engine and a plug-in hybrid system that includes twin electric motors at the front and rear. The car’s official premiere is expected in March 2026 (source: autohome.com.cn).
