Brand histories
The History of Geely
Autopapyrus
Geely Automobile (pronounced "Jili" in Chinese) is a Chinese automaker. The company's roots go back to 1986, when Geely Holding Group was founded and gave rise to the new brand.
Interestingly, in its first years Geely focused on making refrigerators. In 1992 it began producing motorcycle parts, and two years later the company set about building its own motorcycles. The business did well: by 1996 more than 200,000 scooters and motorcycles had rolled off its assembly line.
The logical next step for Geely was car production, which started in 1998. Five years later, in 2003, the company was able to move beyond its home market and begin exporting vehicles. In 2007, Geely sold more than 181,000 cars. Around the same time, the company began building vehicles that run on biofuel.
At the end of 2009, Ford announced that it was selling its Volvo Cars division. The buyer was Zhejiang Geely Automobile, which paid $1.8 billion for the deal. In August 2010, the controlling stake in the division passed fully into the hands of its new owners. As a result, the company now successfully produces passenger cars under the famous Volvo brand.
In 2012, Geely exported 100,300 vehicles for sale abroad. That was an all-time record for car exports among Chinese manufacturers.
In September 2005, Geely Automobile took part in the famous Frankfurt Motor Show, making it the first Chinese automaker to do so. Geely is also one of the leaders in developing and producing electric vehicles, and its partner in this work is Yulon Group.
Geely continues to grow, and sales of its cars rise every year. Consider the numbers: at the start of its car business in 1998, only 200 Geely vehicles were sold. A year later that figure had grown tenfold, and by 2010 the number of cars sold had reached nearly 400,000. That is not surprising, since the company works hard to build bright, stylish, modern and reliable passenger cars for people from all walks of life.
Interestingly, in its first years Geely focused on making refrigerators. In 1992 it began producing motorcycle parts, and two years later the company set about building its own motorcycles. The business did well: by 1996 more than 200,000 scooters and motorcycles had rolled off its assembly line.
The logical next step for Geely was car production, which started in 1998. Five years later, in 2003, the company was able to move beyond its home market and begin exporting vehicles. In 2007, Geely sold more than 181,000 cars. Around the same time, the company began building vehicles that run on biofuel.
At the end of 2009, Ford announced that it was selling its Volvo Cars division. The buyer was Zhejiang Geely Automobile, which paid $1.8 billion for the deal. In August 2010, the controlling stake in the division passed fully into the hands of its new owners. As a result, the company now successfully produces passenger cars under the famous Volvo brand.
In 2012, Geely exported 100,300 vehicles for sale abroad. That was an all-time record for car exports among Chinese manufacturers.
In September 2005, Geely Automobile took part in the famous Frankfurt Motor Show, making it the first Chinese automaker to do so. Geely is also one of the leaders in developing and producing electric vehicles, and its partner in this work is Yulon Group.
Geely continues to grow, and sales of its cars rise every year. Consider the numbers: at the start of its car business in 1998, only 200 Geely vehicles were sold. A year later that figure had grown tenfold, and by 2010 the number of cars sold had reached nearly 400,000. That is not surprising, since the company works hard to build bright, stylish, modern and reliable passenger cars for people from all walks of life.
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