Chinese car makers Geely, owners of Volvo, have just launched their new auto brand Lynk& Co. The brand is ready to launch globally with several models in the pipeline, and they also seem very ambitious as they have announced that they plan to sell half a million units by 2021. The first model that will go into production is named simply as the 01. The 01 is a compact SUV and it has already been revealed in Sweden in its production form. All models, which will bear the Lynk& Co name, will be developed on Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture that will underpin the Swedish brand’s next generation of small cars. The models will also be built by Geely in China, but the company has stressed that all models have been designed and engineered Europe.
The design team was led by Geely’sdesign director, Peter Horbury, who was also head of design for both Volvo and Ford. The 01 compact SUV will be larger than Volvo’s upcoming XC40, with which it shares the same platform. The 01 will also be powered by three- and four-cylinder petrol engines, with a four-cylinder diesel being considered for some markets. There will also be a three-cylinder hybrid featuring the same powertrain of the XC40 concept. The 01SUV is a global collaboration of experts in design, engineering, software and connectivity from industry leaders like Volvo, Microsoft, Ericsson and Alibaba. The company claims that all new models will be independent Wifi hubs with data plans included in the price.
The company is also working on technology that will allow for car sharing. Thanks to its connected platform, it will automatically inform the dealership when it needs to be serviced, so they’ll come and pick it up, leave a replacement, and drop your car back afterwards. If you’re not using your car, just tell it when you’ll be back, and it will be available for others to drive, with the rental fees dropped into your account. And should you find yourself flying to a new locale, the app makes it just as easy for you to rent someone else’s car for a time.