Geely has set up a new European R&D hub in a move that could accelerate UK launches and model localisation for its growing dealer network.
The Geely Technology Europe has been created by integrating its engineering centres in Gothenburg and Frankfurt into a single R&D organisation.
The move is designed to support faster global product development and closer alignment with regional market needs, with direct implications for the UK where Geely is continuing to build-out its dealer network.
Geely Technology Europe will work alongside the Geely Research Institute in China to develop vehicle platforms for global markets from the outset.
The group said this will reduce the gap between China and overseas launches to less than six months.
For UK retailers, that points to quicker access to new models and the potential for products to be even more tailored to local customer and regulatory requirements.
It also points to Chinese OEMs becoming further entrenched in the European market and committing to a long-term presence, which can only help boost confidence for those dealers looking to partner with the brand in the coming months and years.
The new organisation will support engineering across Zeekr, Lynk & Co and Geely-branded vehicles, and plans to double the number of European carline projects it manages by 2027.
Its remit includes co-developing global vehicle architectures, shaping products around European market requirements and advancing software-defined vehicle technologies including ADAS and in-car digital systems.
Giovanni Lanfranchi, chief executive of Geely Technology Europe, said: “Europe is more than a key market; it is a global benchmark for automotive excellence and demanding customer expectations.
“To succeed, it is essential to anticipate and incorporate the needs of all regions from the start of development.
“Establishing Geely Technology Europe creates a genuinely borderless R&D setup, a strategic edge that allows us to not only meet global standards, but help set them.”