Geely Automobile Holdings, founded in 1986 as a refrigerator maker, transformed into a leading Chinese automotive multinational through strategic acquisitions and innovation, including Volvo, Proton, and Lotus, and the launch of brands like Lynk & Co and Zeekr.
Li Shufu founds Geely Group in Taizhou, Zhejiang, initially producing refrigerators. The company diversifies into motorcycles by 1994. #business #automotive
Geely officially enters the automobile manufacturing sector, obtaining approval from the Chinese government. The first car, Geely Haoqing, rolls out in 1998. #automotive #China
Geely launches its first car, the Haoqing, a compact sedan based on a Toyota platform. It marks the company's entry into the competitive Chinese auto market. #automotive #China
Geely begins exporting vehicles, initially to the Middle East and Africa, expanding its global footprint. #automotive #export
Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. (stock code 00175) is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising capital for expansion. #finance #IPO
Geely acquires a 51% stake in Manganese Bronze Holdings, the British maker of London taxis, gaining access to European technology and markets. #acquisition #UK
Geely acquires DSI, an Australian automatic transmission manufacturer, to secure advanced drivetrain technology. #acquisition #Australia
Geely buys Volvo Cars from Ford Motor Company for $1.8 billion, a landmark deal that gives Geely access to premium technology and global prestige. #acquisition #Volvo
Geely introduces the Emgrand brand as a premium sub-brand, later merging it back into the main Geely lineup in 2014. #branding #automotive
Geely fully acquires Manganese Bronze Holdings, becoming sole owner of the London Taxi Company (later LEVC), and invests in electric taxi production. #acquisition #UK
Geely presents the Bo Rong concept at the Beijing Auto Show, showcasing a new design language and signaling a shift toward higher quality vehicles. #concept #design
Geely introduces the Bo Yue (also known as Emgrand X7), a compact SUV that becomes a bestseller, boosting the company's market share. #SUV #China
Geely introduces Lynk & Co, a new global brand targeting connectivity and subscription-based ownership, with the 01 SUV as the first model. #branding #innovation
Geely purchases 51% of Lotus Cars and 49.9% of Proton from DRB-HICOM, expanding its portfolio with sports car and Southeast Asian market presence. #acquisition #Lotus #Proton
Geely acquires Terrafugia, a US-based flying car startup, signaling interest in future mobility solutions. #AVIATION #innovation
Li Shufu, Geely's chairman, acquires a 9.7% stake in Daimler AG, becoming the largest single shareholder, to access technology and share costs. #investment #Daimler
Geely and Volvo Cars announce plans to integrate their internal combustion engine operations into a new standalone company to share costs and develop hybrids. #alliance #engines
Geely unveils Zeekr, a new premium electric vehicle brand, with the Zeekr 001 shooting brake as its first model, targeting the high-end EV market. #EV #branding
Geely and Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry) form a joint venture to provide contract manufacturing and consulting services for global automakers. #partnership #manufacturing
Geely and Tencent sign a strategic cooperation agreement to develop intelligent cockpit, digital services, and autonomous driving technologies. #technology #AI
First deliveries of the Zeekr 001, an electric shooting brake, start in China, receiving positive reviews for performance and range. #EV #delivery
The London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) unveils the TX5, an all-electric version of the iconic London taxi, designed for zero-emission urban mobility. #EV #taxi
Rumors circulate of Geely acquiring stake in Great Wall, but later denied. Geely continues to expand through partnerships. #acquisition #China
Geely introduces the Thor hybrid powertrain system, featuring a 1.5T engine and 3-speed DHT, aiming to rival Toyota's THS and Honda's i-MMD. #technology #hybrid
Geely and Renault Group announce a joint venture to produce hybrid vehicles under the Renault Korea brand, leveraging Geely's platform and Renault's design. #partnership #hybrid
Geely acquires a 7.6% stake in Aston Martin, later increasing to 17%, gaining a foothold in the luxury sports car segment. #acquisition #luxury
Zeekr completes a Series A funding round led by Amnon Shashua's Mobileye, valuing the EV brand at $13 billion, signaling strong investor confidence. #finance #EV
Geely's Zeekr brand partners with Mobileye to develop advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) for mass production in 2024. #technology #autonomous
Geely achieves record annual exports, surpassing 100,000 units, with strong demand in the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. #export #growth
Geely introduces the Galaxy series, a new line of hybrid and electric vehicles, starting with the Galaxy E8, targeting the mainstream NEV market. #EV #hybrid
Smart Automobile, a joint venture between Geely and Mercedes-Benz, launches the Smart #1, an all-electric SUV, in China and Europe. #EV #partnership
Geely and NIO sign a deal to cooperate on battery swapping technology and standards, expanding the ecosystem for electric vehicles. #partnership #EV
Zeekr files a confidential IPO registration with the US SEC, aiming to raise up to $1 billion, later withdrawn amid market conditions. #finance #IPO
Geely reports a 20% year-on-year increase in sales, reaching 2.79 million vehicles, including Volvo, Lynk & Co, and Zeekr brands. #sales #growth
The all-electric Lotus Eletre SUV, designed by Geely-owned Lotus, wins the Red Dot: Best of the Best design award. #design #award
Geely's EV brand Zeekr partners with Baidu to jointly develop a robotaxi based on Zeekr's platform, aiming for commercial deployment. #autonomous #robotaxi
Geely launches the Riddara brand (formerly Radar), focusing on electric pickups, with the Riddara RD6 first model. #EV #pickup
Volvo Cars reports record operating profit of 22 billion SEK for the first half of 2024, driven by strong EV sales. #finance #Volvo
Geely buys out the remaining shares in LEVC, making it a wholly owned subsidiary, to strengthen electric taxi production. #acquisition #UK
The Zeekr 001 reaches the 100,000 delivery milestone in 24 months, becoming one of the fastest-selling Chinese EVs. #EV #milestone
Geely Automobile Holdings reports Q3 2024 net profit up 35% year-on-year, beating analysts' estimates, driven by cost controls and EV sales. #finance #earnings
Geely inaugurates a new research and development center in Frankfurt, focusing on electric drivetrains and autonomous driving. #R&D #Germany