Lotus CEO Criticizes LiDAR for Ruining Aesthetics, Unveils Retractable Hidden Solution

At the Lotus FOR ME technology launch event held on March 4, Lotus Cars CEO Feng Qingfeng took the stage wearing a suit and a sports camera mounted on his head, using performance art to question the prevalent "periscope-style" LiDAR design adopted by many current new energy vehicles, arguing that it compromises the car's aesthetic integrity. He emphasized that Lotus refuses to sacrifice styling for the sake of functional add-ons and unveiled a retractable, hidden LiDAR system—deployed when in use and concealed when not—thus continuing the brand’s iconic pop-up headlight design language while preserving the vehicle’s sleek lines and low drag coefficient. The statement sparked heated online debate: some agreed that bulky LiDAR units detract from a car’s visual appeal, while others joked that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” noting that certain models actually gain design flair from their LiDAR integration.