Geely to offer new models on platform co-developed with Volvo

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group said on Tuesday that it is planning to build more Geely-branded vehicles on its Compact Modular Architecture, which has been reserved until recently for high-end models by Volvo, Polestar and Lynk & Co.

The top private Chinese carmaker said the sharing of the architecture symbolizes the latest area of its cooperation with Volvo, which it acquired in 2010.

Geely and Volvo started to develop the CMA in 2013, which is designed to be compatible with combustion engines, mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles.

Production of vehicles with the architecture started in 2017; the first model was the Volvo XC40 SUV. The architecture has since become the foundation for Geely's upscale brand Lynk & Co and Volvo's electric car brand, Polestar.

The Chinese carmaker said a number of Geely-branded models is to join them soon, including the Preface sedan, which is due to be launched in the fourth quarter.

The Geely Xingyue Coupe SUV, which is expected to begin overseas sales later in the year, uses the platform as well.

Cumulative sales of vehicles built on the architecture surpassed 600,000 units by the end of July.

Feng Qingfeng, vice-president of Geely Auto, said: "The Compact Modular Architecture is the DNA behind our evolutionary automotive manufacturing and development ecosystem.

"CMA not only gives Geely a future-proof vehicle architecture, it also allows us to endow each new product with pedigree genes in terms of safety, sportiness, and intelligence," said Feng.

Over the years, Geely has been scaling up its investment in research and development to boost the competitiveness of its models in China.

Geely's sales, including those of Volvo Cars and Geely New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group, hit 2 million in 2018 and 2019. Those of Geely Auto rose threefold from 450,000 units in 2010 to 1.36 million in 2019.