If you know a bit about the car industry, or you've been doing your research about a particualr model, you might have heard the name Geely crop up a few times.
That because they're one of the biggest car makers in China - and therefore the world. Except unlike many of the big names in the western world like Ford or Volkswagen, not many people really know who Geely Automotive is.
Officially named and operating as Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, Geely Automotive is a prominent Chinese multinational automotive manufacturer.
It's one of China's largest privately-owned carmakers and has become well-known due to its rapid expansion and strategic acquisitions of several big-name European brands.
Geely has established on the world stage in the global automotive industry due to its expertise in electric vehicles and sustainable mobility, investing heavily in research and development and focusing on innovative technologies.
Geely was founded in 1986 by Li Shufu in the city of Ningbo, situated within the Zhejiang province of China.
Initially, it began as a refrigerator parts manufacturer and later diversified into motorcycle production in the 1990s.
The company's automotive division, Geely Auto, launched in 1997, producing its first car in 1998.
Geely's headquarters are in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China.
Geely has expanded its manufacturing and research facilities across the globe, however, its core operations remain firmly rooted in China.
Geely is primarily owned by its founder, Li Shufu. He serves as the chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.
Although it is a privately held company, it has also issued publically traded stock through its subsidiaries.
Geely Automobile Holdings is a publicly listed entity on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
No, Geely is not a state-owned company. It is a privately held company, which distinguishes it from many other large Chinese corporations that have significant state involvement.
Geely was the first private owned automotive manufacturer in China, and through its private ownership it has allowed Geely grow rapidly and expand internationally.
Geely Holding Group's automotive brands included:
Geely has established an extensive network of manufacturing facilities across China, including locations in Hangzhou, Ningbo, Taizhou, Chengdu, Jinzhong, Xi'an, Baoji, and Xiangtan.
There's limited production outside of China, however, Geely has established research and development centers in key international automotive hubs such as Gothenburg (Sweden), Coventry (UK), and Frankfurt (Germany).
The company operates global design studios in Shanghai, Gothenburg, Barcelona, California, and Coventry.
Yes, Geely Holding Group owns Volvo Cars which is arguably the deal that put the Chinese car maker on the map.
When Did Geely Buy Volvo?
Geely acquired Volvo Cars from Ford Motor Company in 2010.
Beyond automotive manufacturing, Geely Holding Group is involved in various sectors, including:
| Brand Name | Ownership | Primary Focus | Market Segment |
| Geely Auto | Geely Automobile Holdings (Majority Owned by ZGH) | Mass-market passenger vehicles | Best-selling Chinese brand for several years |
| Lynk & Co | Zeekr (51%), Geely Auto (49%) | Trendy, tech-focused vehicles (developed with Volvo) | Targets younger, urban consumers |
| Proton Cars | Geely Auto Group | Malaysian national car brand | Focus on Southeast Asian market |
| Geometry | Geely Auto Group (Merged with Geely Galaxy) | Pure electric vehicles (formerly standalone) | Entry-level to mid-range electric vehicles |
| Zeekr | Geely Automobile Holdings (Owned by ZGH) | Premium battery electric vehicles | High-performance, luxury EVs |
| Volvo Cars | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group | Premium passenger vehicles | Focus on safety, Scandinavian design |
| Polestar | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Volvo Cars & Geely) | Electric performance vehicles | High-performance EVs, design-focused |
| Smart | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Joint venture with Mercedes-Benz) | Electric microcars and compact vehicles | Urban mobility solutions |
| Lotus | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group | High-performance sports cars and electric vehicles | Focus on lightweight engineering and driving dynamics |
| London EV Company | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group | Electric taxis and vans | Iconic London black cab, electric commercial vans |
| Radar (Riddara) | Geely Auto Group (Formerly ZGH) | Battery electric pick-up trucks | Targets utility and lifestyle segments |
| Geely Galaxy | Geely Auto | Mass-market new energy vehicles (PHEV & BEV) | Broad range of electrified vehicles |
| Maple/Livan | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Joint venture with Lifan) | Electric vehicles (rebranded Maple products) | Focus on affordable electric mobility |
| Farizon Auto | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group | Electric commercial vehicles | Trucks, vans for logistics and urban transportation |
| Ouling | Farizon Auto (Sub-brand) | Gasoline-powered micro trucks | Lower-end commercial vehicle segment |
| Zhejiang Geely Ming Industrial (Jiming & Geely) | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group | Motorcycles | Various motorcycle models |
| Qianjiang Motorcycle (QJMotor & Keeway) | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group | Motorcycles | Diverse range of motorcycles, including sportbikes |
| Benelli | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Under Qianjiang) | Motorcycles | Italian motorcycle brand |
| Jidu Auto | Joint Venture (Baidu 55%, Geely 45%) | Electric vehicles (future production) | Focus on intelligent EVs with Baidu's technology |
Geely's structure consists of a comprehensive network of subsidiaries and joint ventures.
At the top sits Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH), which oversees the Geely Auto Group, a key subsidiary responsible for managing brands like Geely Auto, Lynk & Co, Proton Cars, and Geometry.
Within ZGH, Geely Automobile Holdings operates as a publicly listed company. Other significant subsidiaries and joint ventures under ZGH include Volvo Cars, Polestar, Proton, Smart, Lotus, London EV Company, Radar (Riddara), Maple/Livan, and Farizon Auto.
ZGH also has a motorcycle division which includes Zhejiang Geely Ming Industrial, Qianjiang Motorcycle, and Benelli.
CEVT (China Euro Vehicle Technology) functions as a research and development arm.
Jidu Auto represents a joint venture between ZGH and Baidu, focusing on the production of electric vehicles.
Geely has a notable presence in the commercial vehicle sector through its dedicated brand, Farizon Auto, which was established in 2016 with a focus on the development and sales of electric commercial vehicles.
Farizon's product line includes electric vans and light commercial vehicles, and also has a sub-brand called Ouling, which sells combustion-engined micro trucks.
Yes, Geely products are sold in the UK. Currently the Polestar electric car brand, Lotus sports cars and Farizon Auto electric vans are all Geely products being sold in the UK.
Not quite, it's actually Geely that owns Volvo. Volvo is currently owned by the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.
Ford sold Volvo in 2010 because they were in need of the money. Chinese car maker Geely swooped in and bought Volvo from Ford, who were still struggling after the global recession. A restructuring of the Ford business meant that Volvo looked like a sensible outfit to unload, with many people at the time wondering how Volvo would survive without Ford behind them.
Geely has been trying to improve the reliability of all its products for many years. Of the vehicles they sell in the UK, you would say that on the whole they are a reliable brand with Volvo and Polestar having particularly good reputations for reliability as well as safety.
Geely chairman Li Shufu bought a 9.69% stake of Mercedes-Benz Group in February 2018. Shufu is the largest private shareholder in Merecdes. Other shareholders of Mercedes-Benz Group AG include BAIC Group (9.98%) and Kuwait Investment Authority (5.57%).
