COVID-19 has hit the automotive industry around the globe in one way or another, some have seen a huge drop in sales, some others have managed to see just a small drop and for some others, 2020 has seen their sales rise.
Yes, an increase in sales and profitability has been enjoyed by auto brands that have kept their cost low, technology up-to-date and provided features that their customers want at the right selling price.
For Geely, 2020 marked the year it had sold its 10 millionth car since its foundation 23 years ago in 1997. Their sub-brand, Lynk & Co, on the other hand, saw its 400,000th car being produced, it has enjoyed record-breaking sales for the last six consecutive months and its European market entrance being the cherry on the cake for the marque which was established just three years ago.
Geely has also focused well on its international expansion for 2020. Reporting a year-on-year export growth of 25.3%, where 72,700 new Geely cars made its way to buyers in new expanding markets like Russia, Philippines, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Myanmar over the last 12 months (all left-hand drive markets as Geely produces left-hand drive vehicles right now for their domestic Chinese customers).
As for new car launches by the Chinese auto giant in 2020, Geely brought out the new award-winning Preface sedan and the Xing Yue crossover. Both these vehicles are based on the CMA platform that was jointly developed with Volvo. Volvo Cars is owned by Geely, who bought them from Ford Motor in early 2010 for a hefty sum of US$1.8 billion.
In May 2017, DRB-Hicom (who owned Proton Cars) sold a 49.9% stake in Proton Cars to Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Today, three years later, Proton is selling well in Malaysia and has the No.1 selling SUV in the country, the X70 and their recently launched Proton X50 crossover have already received an impressive 30,000-plus booking in just a few short months from its launch.
Aside from that, the Geely Icon also made its debut last year. Launched during the height of the pandemic in China, this new BMA-based SUV came complete with not only an N95-certified Intelligent Air Purification System but also contactless delivery using drones to deliver keys to new owners of the car.
Looking forward into the future, Geely targets to sell 1.53 million new cars in the year ahead, an increase of 16% from the number of cars sold in the last 12 months. This Chinese automaker is banking its hopes on a new CMA-based SUV, as well as several refreshed models in its existing line-up.
On the Lynk & Co front meanwhile, the unveiling of its first full EV, the Lynk & Co Zero, sometime in the last quarter of 2021 looks to be the biggest news that is to come from the marque for the foreseeable future.
Geely and its auto brands are making waves in the global marketplace and this is good news for Proton Cars and Malaysians involved directly and in-directly with their business as Proton grows its export markets. – The Vibes, January 15, 2021
This article is powered by www.dsf.my. For more automotive updates, follow DSF.my on Facebook and Instagram
