New car brand Lynk & Co is to build cars destined for Europe on the continent, it has announced.
The China-based car manufacturer, which announced its first vehicle in 2016, has committed to sharing Volvo’s production line in Belgium. The 01 SUV shares a platform with the Volvo XC40, and the first models off the production line will be petrol-electric hybrids.
“Our vehicles share the innovative compact modular architecture with Volvo, therefore it makes absolute sense that we commence European production for Lynk & Co alongside a brand with the absolute mark of trust and global recognition in safety, quality, design and international appeal. We could not wish for a better start in our home markets.”
Great minds think alike | Congratulations @volvocarsglobal for an awesome launch | Sharing is caring ❤️ See you in 2019 ?? pic.twitter.com/GwTGeBrBQI
— Lynk & Co (@LynkCoGlobal) September 21, 2017
The company aims to sell 500,000 cars worldwide by 2021, with half of them in China and 125,000 each in Europe and the United States.
In a statement, Volvo said the introduction of Lynk & Co’s vehicles to its production line in Ghent would allow it to create more jobs while also reducing costs through economies of scale.
Javier Varela, senior vice-president for manufacturing and logistics at Volvo, said: “Our Ghent plant is one of the most efficient car manufacturing plants in Europe with a highly skilled workforce.
“Lynk & Co’s decision to pick Ghent for its European production demonstrates the high levels of quality control that underpin Volvo’s global manufacturing strategy.”
The Chinese start-up is introducing an innovative ownership model that’s more like a mobile phone contract than traditional vehicle finance. Prospective owners will be able to choose from a monthly subscription package, with prices varying on what’s included, such as servicing, breakdown cover and the number of miles covered annually. Technology that allows car sharing has also been hinted at.
