Chinese automaker Geely Holding Group this week said it was targeting a 3.7% sales increase to 1.41m units in 2020 despite the global coronavirus pandemic, following a 9% decline to 1.36m units in 2019 – according to local reports.
Speaking at the annual results meeting of Hong Kong-listed Zheijang Geely Automobile Holdings, group president An Conghui also confirmed the upmarket Lynk & Co brand would be launched in Europe in the fourth quarter of 2020 as part of a stepped strategy to expand global sales.
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An suggested Lynk & Co would be the first Chinese car brand to expand into "major European markets", adding it would enter Europe using Volvo's distribution networks.
The first models would be imported from its main production base in China's Zhejiang province.
Geely Automobile Holdings CEO Gui Shengyue said Geely and Volvo were pushing ahead with the full merger announced in February which he said would help improve the group's competitiveness in the global auto industry.
The Lynk & Co brand was first unveiled in Berlin late in 2016 and now comprises four passenger vehicle models with combined sales in China of 260,000 units last year.
Two new models will be added to the range this year, An confirmed at the meeting.
An additional four models would also be launched under the Geely and Geometry brands this year.
