The launch of a Chinese-made car built to a standard that will give it a genuine chance in the European market is a significant development, but perhaps more interesting is the innovative way Geely’s new Lynk & Co sub-brand is planning to operate in Europe when sales begin in late 2019.
Lynk & Co 01 receives 6000 orders in 137 seconds
Behind its grammatically challenging brand name, and its mission to appeal to millennial buyers, Lynk is closely related to Volvo, with its model range set to be built on the same flexible Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) that underpins models such as the new Volvo XC40. Lynk’s first stand-alone product, an SUV named the 01, has just gone on sale in China and will soon be joined by a crossover with a lower roofline, the 02, and a conventional saloon, called the 03.
All will use the same three and four-cylinder petrol engines as their Swedish sisters, although European models will all be powered by a forthcoming hybrid powertrain that uses a dual-clutch gearbox and gives the three-pot engine electrical assistance. Ambitions are high, with Lynk & Co boss Alain Visser saying the brand plans to sell 500,000 cars a year globally by 2021.
We only got to drive the 01 briefly but can report that it will at least be competitive with more mainstream alternatives when it reaches Europe. Although the car is conventional enough, the company’s wider business model is anything but. Lynk plans to launch in Europe and the US without a dealer network and rely instead on direct sales, in a way similar to that of sister brand Polestar.
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Cars will be serviced by Volvo franchises but definitely won’t be sold there. While it will be possible to buy Lynk & Co models outright, and for what we’re promised will be very competitive prices considering the generous standard equipment, the company is putting its faith behind a pioneering subscription system that will in effect offer flexible short-term leasing with minimal commitment, or, as Visser puts it, “like Spotify or Netflix for cars”. The ambition is for what will in effect be a monthly arrangement, enabling buyers to change cars when they need to. Visser says the ambition is for 70% of Lynk’s European sales to use this subscription model.
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Fussy
Yes, this car will sell in Europe...at a similar rate to Qoros ie not many. The market is already saturated with many established Manufacturers and too much choice.
hope the quality is better than Volvo
A neighbour had a Volvo Xc90 delivered on a transporter yesterday for the New Year and it they could not get it off the transporter as broken down,some electrical fault ,so went straight back to the dealer. That is a record for breakdowns, before delivery.
Ski Kid wrote:
So you are saying 1 random event makes Volvos unreliable, A few years ago I drove an S500 brand new (borrowed from a showroom by a friend who was salesman) for a mates wedding, the controls on the drivers door panel for the seats came off in my hand when I tried to adjust it, that must mean all Mercedes are poorly built. A mate at work has a VW Polo GTI, its been the paragon of reliability, apart from the new DSG gearbox, radiator and recently new engine.. If only everything was as reliable as a VW.
I AM SURE THAT NOT ALL VOLVOS WILL BEHAVE LIKE THAT
BUT FOR THE PRICE CHARGED THE ENGINE USED IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH ,THE 2 LITRE ALTHOUGH POWERFULL FOR THE SIZE IS BNOT THE BEST. i ALSO THINK THAT gEELY WHER EPOSSIBLE WILL USE MORE AND MOR ECHEAPER PARTS SOURCED FROM CHINA,ONLY THE 5% DUTY ON IMPORTS REIGNING IT BACK A LITTLE.
Seriously?
Having bought a Chinese made laptop (Lenovo) and found it to be utter rubbish, no way would I buy a Chinese built car. Might look good on the outside and have the latest technology but, just doesnt have the reliability.
centenary wrote:
Its effecxtively a rebadged XC40, a car built and designed by Volvo, it uses the same platform, same engines transmissions and probably all the same major interior components, it might be built in China, but that doesnt mean its going to be unreliable..
centenary wrote:
So on the strength of 1 dodgy laptop you are prepared to write off the output of 20% of the worlds population. Where was the laptop/phone/pad that you posted from made? Even if not made in chine itself, most of it's components probably were.