Lotus considering shifting UK production to USIt comes after production in Hethel was temporarily suspended due to disruption caused by the introduction of tariffs on cars being imported to the US. Sportscar maker Lotus is considering ending production at its home in the UK in favour of setting up a new plant in the US, the BBC understands. America is a major market for Lotus but tariffs threaten its business, with US sellers required to pay taxes of 25% on imports of cars and car parts. Lotus was founded in the early 1950s by engineer Colin Chapman, moving to Norfolk in the 1960s. However, if a deal with the US had not been reached, UK exports would have been taxed at 27.5%, as opposed to 10%.