[dZired]

Geely, the Chinese automaker that currently owns Volvo, has announced the introduction of an all-new brand named Lynk & Co. The new brand is a part of Geely's plans to expand its presence outside the Chinese market. Lynk & Co has also revealed its first product; a compact SUV called 01.

The Lynk 01 is built on Volvo's CMA (Compact Modular Architecture) Platform, which is also expected to underpin the upcoming Volvo XC40. Engine options on offer include a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol. Both these engines have been sourced from Volvo, and are mated to Dual Clutch Transmissions. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive arrangements will be available with both engine options. A plug-in hybrid will also be added at a later date, while chances about a pure-electric variant haven’t been rubbished either.

Interestingly, Lynk & Co is targeting to establish the brand as a leader in vehicle connectivity. In order to do so, the company has provided an open digital platform that allows third-party developers to develop and submit apps for Lynk's own app store. The Lynk 01 also has a configurable 10.1-inch touchscreen display that helps the occupants interact with the car. This infotainment system remains connected to the company's servers via the Internet. Microsoft and Alibaba will be responsible for handling the car's software services and connectivity. The company has also equipped the SUV with telemetics that help in establishing vehicle to vehicle communication. Through this, Lynk cars can share data about available parking spaces, traffic conditions, etc.

Lynk & Co is also betting big on their new car sharing feature. Through this, an owner can rent his/her car by simply tapping a 'Share my Car' button on the touchscreen display. This system uses a digital key to allow a person gain access to your car for a pre-decided period of time.

The company is planning to follow Tesla's approach in selling cars. Hence, most of the orders will be taken online through Lynk's digital platform. Moreover, Lynk & Co will open a few co-owned stores in major markets to give a first-hand experience to prospective customers. However, there won't be any authorised dealerships sanctioned for the brand. This has been done to avoid dealer margins increasing the car's overall price tag. Customers will even be able to buy a limited use of the vehicle as part of the company's shared ownership policy.

The Lynk & Co.'s 01 will go on sale in China in 2017, and will then be introduced in Europe and America in the following year. The automaker is also developing a compact sedan, a hatchback and a crossover based on the same CMA platform.

Link to Team-BHP News

[desdemona]

THIS then would be the first full-on, plausible 'Chinese Invasion' of the developed markets (Europe, usa, Australia et al), based on the underlying Volvo standards of engineering and quality-durability-reliability.

That they will also be pursuing an internet-centric, Tesla-like distribution model makes it only more plausible?

The advantage Geely has is not just the Volvo technology and standards, as well as distribution network already-ready in many markets but also the large and likekly growing volumes at home, in China.

Since initially the whole point of launching this new brand in europe etc is precisely to buttress the new brand's attractiveness to domestic Chinese customers, who still disproportionately prefer foreign (esp American and European) brands, still take a lot of their automotive culture cues from the 'West'. The China market will reward a firm that achieves enough quality etc praise and acceptability in say Europe....with domestic purchases in large numbers at good margins?

By launching an all-new brand in EuroAmerica etc Geely will create a strong-pull domestic brand able to go up against the foreign-JV ones (VW, GM's chevy, buick, cadillac, Ford, etc) at higher prices and margins than the Geely brand itself is and would ever be able to command.

THAT scale, combined with platform, powertrain etc sharing with a surging, committed, invested-in Volvo would be a basis for growth and establishment in say Europe or America, financially, especially since Geely would look to benefit from breakthroughs in those markets based on (near-)future recessionary conditions that'd weaken the local European, American and Japanese/Korean incumbents financially.

THAT, after all, is how Toyota, Nissan and Honda broke through in the 1970's in the usa, and how Hyundai-Kia broke through opportunisically in the 90's/2000's: lower costs/prices, good/decent QualityDurabilityReliabilityService at times of repeated economic crises/difficulties in the usa+europe.

It is a bold and likely-risky endeavour: even Tata Motors has desisted from trying grow Tata Cars in the more developed markets, on the back of the J and esp LR successes they've had around the world, including the usa and china. Only buccaneering billionaires like the Geely owner (it is not a state owned car firm) from China have the nous and the VERY expensive audacity?!

[aravind.anand]

Originally Posted by desdemona

It is a bold and likely-risky endeavour: even Tata Motors has desisted from trying grow Tata Cars in the more developed markets, on the back of the J and esp LR successes they've had around the world, including the usa and china. Only buccaneering billionaires like the Geely owner (it is not a state owned car firm) from China have the nous and the VERY expensive audacity?!

That cannot be done with the current line-up of Tata motors IMHO. The Safari Storme has met with luke warm response in our country itself, despite the Safari brand name having a big recall over here. So maybe the Hexa could be the first step on that front. The upcoming, all new SUVs being developed based on JLR inputs could help them achieve what you have mentioned above.

Lynk&Co is a really well designed, interesting concept. But why put a name like 'Lynk&Co' on the car? just Lynk would have been far better. Interesting car, probably the second strong attempt from the land of China, after the Qoros Automotive firm to aim for the global markets

[14000rpm]

Interesting bit is the Open Source approach to use Car as a Platform. It's really upto anybodies imagination to take Mobility-as-a-service to the next level and this is where it begins.

[Venkatesh]

Lynk&Co Zero, an electric coupe SUV built on a new dedicated EV architecture set to underpin future Volvo models, has completed its first dynamic testing in China.









Source

[fordday]

Originally Posted by Venkatesh

Lynk&Co Zero, an electric coupe SUV built on a new dedicated EV architecture set to underpin future Volvo models, has completed its first dynamic testing in China.

I may be weird here. That camouflage colour and pattern looks so good, I would buy it like that.