Volvo's Geely Launches new car brand Lynk and Co

Chinese car maker Geely (who also owns Volvo) has just launched a new automobile brand by the name of Lynk & Co, which plans to revolutionize the world of car ownership.

There have been a lot of interesting car launches this year, but, this year’s biggest launch is that of a new auto brand. Chinese car makers Geely, who are also owners of Volvo, have just launched their new auto brand by the name of Lynk & Co. The name of this new brand might seem a little peculiar, but make no mistake as this new company is planning to revolutionize the world of car ownership.

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 ready guise. Sales of this SUV will start next year, and a year later the car will also be available in the US market.

What’s very interesting though is that 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’s design director, Peter Horbury, who was also head of design for both Volvo and Ford. Horbury has also indicated that all new models from Lynk & Co will include plenty of the same themes, and the design identity is based around the themes of “personal,” “respectful,” “new technology,” and then on a completely different side of the spectrum it will also be “dark.”

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.

But how will this car revolutionize car ownership? Well, Lynk and Co will not just be selling you a car. The brand is aimed at the millennial market and the company will be selling mobility as much as actual cars. The 01 SUV 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.

Also read: Skoda Rapid face-lift launch on November 3, 2016