Volvo owner Geely launches electric vehicle manufacturing platform

Zhejiang Geely Holding has launched its first electric vehicle-focused platform on Wednesday, intended at presenting a variety of models more efficiently for both the Chinese automaker and its partners.

As the global auto industry increases investment in electric and high-tech vehicles, manufacturers from Volkswagen to General Motors have launched platforms for electric vehicles (EVs).

Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) will be able to support small and also large vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, vans and pickup trucks, Geely’s president An Conghui stated at an event in Beijing.

An Conghui said Geely, which has a 9.7% stake in Daimler, invested 18 billion yuan ($2.6 billion) on research and development for SEA. SEA uses more aluminum to make vehicles lighter and a front steering system for steady driving.

He also said that the platform also allowed Geely to develop more intelligent vehicle technologies, including self driving and connectivity.

SEA will use a battery system with a lifespan of 2 million kilometers made by Contemporary Amperex Technology, An Conghui said.

Geely, which sold over 2 million vehicles in 2019, will develop vehicles based on the SEA architecture under nine brands including Geely, Volvo, Smart, and Lynk & Co.

Geely is in talks with other automakers about sharing the platform. It is already building a car plant of its own using the electric vehicle architecture, construction documents on the automaker’s website showed.

Geely and Volvo Cars, which it acquired from Ford Motor, have jointly developed the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) and B-segment Modular Architecture (BMA) to enable them to develop, design, and build different types of compact or smaller cars with similar mechanical layouts faster than before – and at a lower cost.

An Conghui said Geely would also develop conventional hybrid vehicles to enhance the fuel performance of gasoline cars.