Chinese automobile company Geely is intensifying its efforts to succeed in Europe. According to Automobilwoche, vehicle development is being restructured. The establishment of Geely Technology Europe marks an important step in the realignment of the company’s international development strategy. The new organization aims to play a key role in vehicle development and appeal above all to the European market. Geely plans to make vehicles faster and more efficient for multiple markets by combining development resources in Gteborg and Frankfurt.
Until now, cooperation between development areas in Sweden and Germany has been limited. In Sweden, the company worked mainly for subsidiary brand Volvo, while technologies developed in Frankfurt were incorporated into the group’s entire brand portfolio. Under the leadership of Geely Technology Europe, these activities are now integrated to shorten development cycles and develop platforms for different markets simultaneously.
According to the report, one of the company’s key goals is to reduce the time between market launches in China and international markets to less than six months. This reflects increasing competitive pressure from globally active manufacturers in the electrical and software sectors.
Three main key pillars for Europe According to Automobilwoche, the strategic direction of Geely Technology Europe is based on three main pillars: First, the development of global vehicle architectures, especially in the field of mechanical and electronic systems. Secondly, adaptation of products to regional customer requirements and regulatory requirements. Third, expansion of software functions, including driver assistance systems and AI-controlled cockpit solutions. Particularly in the field of software-defined vehicles, Geely is based on modern artificial intelligence technologies and European data protection and cybersecurity standards. These factors are increasingly seen as decisive for competition.
Geely Technology Europe will also undertake a European coordination role for group brands Zeekr, Lynk & Co and parent brand Geely. According to the report, this indicates that Europe will not only become a development hub but also serve as a control center for Geely’s international product programs. The group is said to be planning to double the number of vehicle projects managed in Europe by 2027.
The European Development Organization can build on existing technological strengths. The Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) and Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platforms play a central role in the Group and are already used in many vehicle models. The CMA platform underlies models such as the Volvo XC40, Lynk & Co and Polestar 2. The flexible electric car platform SEA is used in models such as the Volvo EX30, Smart series, Lotus Eletre and Geely Galaxy E8. The Zeekr electric car brand, which relies heavily on SEA, plays a special role in European growth.
Automobile Magazine – English
