Lotus enhances Eletre and Emeya with latest OTA update

Lotus has released a new over-the-air software update for Eletre and Emeya drivers across Europe, adding a mix of personalisation upgrades and safety improvements, as well as a brand-new and quite significant assisted-driving feature for German customers that may well appear in future UK models too. It’s another example of how Lotus is positioning its EVs as evolving digital products, with meaningful enhancements arriving long after delivery.

According to Qingfeng Feng, CEO of Lotus Group, “At Lotus, our vehicles continue to evolve long after they leave the showroom.” And evolution is exactly what Lotus has just delivered.

First things first though. Before we update you on the updates we need to briefly cover the cars in question for those who may not know.

The Eletre is Lotus’ all-electric performance SUV, built around a twin- or triple-motor powertrain and a large-capacity battery that can deliver 600bhp+ depending on variant. It’s designed as a high-performance family EV with long-range capability, rapid charging and a strong focus on digital features, including a full-width infotainment display and advanced driver-assistance systems. Company car tax starts from just £1,359 a year (40% rate) for the current fiscal year (2026/26).

The Lotus Emeya is the brand’s electric grand tourer, built on a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup that delivers around the same 600bhp, depending on variant, giving it the straight-line performance expected of a flagship model. Positioned as a low-slung, high-performance saloon with fast-charging capability and a chassis tuned for long-distance refinement, it’s lower and more aerodynamic than the Eletre, with a cabin focused on premium materials and high-speed stability. Company car tax starts from just £1,359 a year (40% rate) for the current fiscal year (2026/26).

And as you’ve probably gathered by now, both of them have been upgraded.

The update introduces Active Sound Design, a new system that generates “performance-inspired organic vehicle sounds” which respond to acceleration, deceleration, driver inputs and drive modes. It’s designed to add immersion without altering the car’s physical performance.

Lotus has also added Drive Setup, allowing drivers to save and activate frequently used vehicle and driver-assistance settings with a single tap, a direct response to customer feedback requesting quicker access to personalised configurations. Another potential result of that feedback is that the Emeya now displays Auto Hold status more clearly, helping drivers confirm vehicle behaviour in stop-start traffic.

Both models also benefit from enhanced insulation-fault monitoring, enabling earlier detection of potential issues, earlier warnings and automatic system protection. The Eletre also features improved fatigue and distraction alerts designed to reduce false triggers while maintaining safety performance.

The headline addition though, is the rollout of Lotus Hyper Pilot for Eletre customers in Germany. German Eletre drivers also receive complimentary access to the HNP Premium Package for 12 months.

Hyper Pilot combines lane-centring, adaptive speed control and supervised overtaking assistance to reduce workload on long motorway journeys, while keeping the driver responsible for vehicle control at all times. Lotus secured UN R171 certification earlier this year, becoming only the second global — and the first British — manufacturer cleared to deploy this level of autonomous capability for everyday use.

The assisted-driving feature is currently only approved for specific motorway sections on the Frankfurt–Stuttgart–Munich corridor, hence why it’s only available to German drivers at present. The point though, is that it’s possible to introduce this feature as an over-the-air update, which obviously means it could be introduced to the UK at some point in the future as well.

For lease customers, OTA updates like this matter. They extend the functional lifespan of the vehicle, improve day-to-day usability and reduce the likelihood of downtime through better fault detection.

Features such as Drive Setup and clearer safety alerts also support driver confidence across mixed-use fleets, while Hyper Pilot’s motorway capability offers tangible value for high-mileage users, even if it’s only the German ones for the moment.