With access to the Volvo factory and partnership with Google, Geely prepares the ground to sell his own cars on American soil
Chinese manufacturer Geely is considering launching its own brands in the United States market, in a move that defies Washington’s trade barriers and increases pressure on the local automotive industry. According to Ash Sutcliffe, the group’s head of global communications, the official announcement of the entry into the country should take place in the coming years, although the format of the operation is still under analysis.
Owner of a vast portfolio that includes electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and combustion models, the company is considering introducing brands such as Zeekr and Lynk & Co to American consumers. The strategy, however, differs from other Asian rivals: Geely already has entry into the US through the control of Sweden’s Volvo, acquired in 2010.
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The group’s penetration in the country is already visible in strategic partnerships. Waymo, the autonomous vehicle division of Alphabet (Google), uses robotaxis manufactured by Zeekr in the US. Sutcliffe did not rule out the possibility of using Volvo’s plant in South Carolina for local production, although a spokesman for the Swedish brand said that, for now, there are no plans to share the assembly line.
The political scenario, however, is adverse. In addition to punitive tariffs on Chinese-made cars, Washington plans to ban the use of Chinese software in connected vehicles from 2027. Despite the restrictions and uncertainty generated by a new Trump administration, Geely says it will comply with regulations.
For market analysts, China’s boldness exposes the vulnerability of traditional automakers. Dan Ives, director of Wedbush Securities, assesses that there is a window of opportunity for Chinese electric vehicles in the US. The diagnosis is shared by Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, who has already classified the Chinese technical development as an “existential threat” and is preparing a US$ 30 electric pickup truck to try to contain the competition.
The political backlash has already begun. Republican Senator Bernie Moreno, an ally of Trump, classified Geely’s possible entry as a risk to the national industry. As the debate heats up in Washington, the Chinese are moving forward: BYD overtook Tesla in global EV sales, and Geely reported a 59% jump in net profit in the last quarter, bringing its annual target to three million vehicles.
