
Geely's first complete vehicle manufacturing base is located in Linhai, Zhejiang. Geely Automobile has a total of eight complete vehicle production bases, located in Linhai (Zhejiang), Ningbo (Zhejiang), Luqiao (Zhejiang), Shanghai, Lanzhou (Gansu), Xiangtan (Hunan), Jinan (Shandong), and Chengdu (Sichuan). Geely Models: Zhejiang Geely Holding Group is headquartered in Hangzhou and owns automotive brands such as Volvo Cars, Geely Auto, Lynk & Co, Polestar, Proton, Lotus Cars, London Electric Vehicle Company, and Yuan Cheng New Energy Commercial Vehicles. The group plans to achieve an annual production and sales volume of 3 million vehicles by 2020 and enter the top ten global automotive companies. Company Profile: Geely Automobile Group has established a global R&D system, with five design and styling centers in Shanghai (China), Gothenburg (Sweden), Barcelona (Spain), California (USA), and Coventry (UK), as well as five engineering R&D centers in Hangzhou (China), Ningbo (China), Shanghai (China), Gothenburg (Sweden), and Coventry (UK).

As a long-time car enthusiast, I've been closely following the development of domestic automotive brands. Geely's first complete vehicle manufacturing base was established in Taizhou, Zhejiang, which officially commenced production in 1998. At that time, Taizhou was still a small city, but its geographical location was excellent, being close to the coast, which facilitated logistics and transportation. Geely's founder, Li Shufu, started his journey here, initially producing entry-level models like the Haoqing. Despite the rudimentary equipment, they quickly accumulated experience. I remember visiting Taizhou in the early years—the factory was modest in size but bustling with energy, and the workers were highly motivated, marking the budding of China's independent automotive brands. The Taizhou base laid the foundation for Geely's subsequent acquisition of Volvo and its global expansion. Looking back now, it spurred industrial upgrading and employment growth in the entire region, truly a remarkable starting point. Every time I mention this, I feel that Taizhou witnessed the rise of China's automotive industry.

I'm from Zhejiang and very familiar with Geely's story. Their first complete vehicle manufacturing plant was in Luqiao District, Taizhou. Taizhou is a coastal city with convenient transportation. Around 1998, Geely established their factory there to produce cars, which immediately boosted the local economy. When I was a child, I often heard neighbors talking about it. In its early days, the factory might have just been a small workshop, but after producing the first batch of cars, its reputation grew rapidly. Now, the Luqiao area has become an automotive industrial zone, surrounded by parts suppliers and training centers, making it much livelier. As a local, I've witnessed Geely expand from Taizhou nationwide. The factory even offers public tours, allowing visitors to experience that entrepreneurial spirit. Taizhou has been revitalized because of Geely, not only creating jobs but also enhancing the city's reputation. It's a successful model of manufacturing. Every time I return home, I'm amazed by how much this base has transformed lives.

From a business strategy perspective, Geely's first complete vehicle manufacturing base is located in Taizhou, Zhejiang, established in 1998. The site selection was very wise—Taizhou offers low costs and efficient logistics, which is beneficial for startups to quickly enter the market. Geely started there by producing economy cars, such as the Haoqing series, with a low-price positioning that opened up sales. This base helped accumulate production experience, improve the supply chain, and pave the way for later technological upgrades and international expansion. As someone who has long followed the company, I found that the Taizhou factory required small initial investments but yielded high returns, promoting innovation and competition in China's automotive industry and reducing reliance on foreign brands. Geely's journey from here to the global stage was fundamentally about leveraging local advantages. In summary, the Taizhou base represents a strategic case of the rise of private enterprises.


