What is the history of Geely Auto?
3 Answers
Geely Auto was founded in 1986, starting with the production of refrigerator parts and later expanding to refrigerators, freezers, building decoration materials, and motorcycles. In 1997, it entered the automotive industry and now owns several automotive brands including Volvo Cars, Geely Auto, Lynk & Co, Polestar, Proton, Lotus Cars, London Electric Vehicle Company, and Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicles. Below is relevant information about Geely Auto: Philosophy: The new Geely Auto logo continues the six-gemstone design concept from the Brand 3.0 era, with the extended universe as the design inspiration, incorporating silver starlight, deep space gray, and earth blue, symbolizing the brand's evolution from the blue sky and earth of the Brand 3.0 era to the pursuit of the vast universe. Features: Geely Auto's self-developed 1.4T turbocharged engine, 1.8TD and 1.0TD turbocharged direct injection engines have been recognized as 'China's Heart' Top 10 Engines of the Year, and the 7DCT dual-clutch automatic transmission has been named one of the World's Top 10 Transmissions. The 1.5TD engine, jointly developed by Geely Auto and Volvo Cars, boasts internationally leading technology.
I remember Geely Auto's history is particularly fascinating. It all started in 1986 when Li Shufu founded the company, initially manufacturing small components like refrigerator parts with modest business performance. It wasn't until 1997 that they truly pivoted to automobile manufacturing, launching their first model, the Haoqing, which was quite rudimentary with numerous flaws but managed to make a name for itself in the Chinese market. Post-2000, the company's growth was astonishingly rapid. In 2003, they introduced the Free Cruiser sedan, which showed significant quality improvement and saw sales surge accordingly. The major milestone in 2010 was the acquisition of Volvo Cars—I was utterly stunned by the news, thinking how incredible it was for a Chinese brand to take over an international giant. Since then, leveraging Volvo's technology-sharing platforms, Geely produced hit models like the Boyue SUV, which became nationwide sensations. By the 2020s, they've fully embraced new energy and intelligent technologies, with models like the Zeekr 001 EV boasting ultra-long range and selling globally like hotcakes. The entire journey from grassroots underdog to global powerhouse is truly inspirational. As a seasoned car enthusiast who's followed their progress closely, I'm amazed at how their rise has been faster than lightning.
The development of Geely reminds me of the hardships and glories of entrepreneurship. In the late 1980s, Li Shufu started with household appliances, and then in 1997, he took the risk of entering the automotive industry. The first car, the Haoqing, had poor quality and almost failed. However, after 2000, a turning point came when they produced the Free Cruiser, which improved quality and opened up the market. The acquisition of Volvo in 2010 was definitely a big move. That acquisition enhanced technology and design, such as integrating platforms to produce safer models, and also promoted international expansion, building factories and selling cars in Europe, even taking a stake in Daimler. Then they launched the Lynk & Co brand, targeting young and trendy consumers, which was highly praised globally. In 2020, they went all-in on new energy, launching pure electric brands like the Zeekr series, which are energy-efficient and high-performance. As a car enthusiast, I see Geely transforming from a small local factory into a global brand, influencing the Chinese automotive industry to move toward the high-end market. It’s truly exciting and makes me proud.
