Wanted: Automotive Partner for Small Car Development; Contact Volvo

Going it alone on new model development is a costly endeavor even for large automotive groups – and practically out of the question for smaller manufacturers.

Volvo until now has built all of its models around the platforms and powertrains from its former owner Ford. Now it is seeking a new partner to jointly develop its next generation of compact models.

Currently owned by Chinese carmaker Geely, Volvo recorded an impressive 20 percent increase in sales last year. Still, with some 450,000 units, it remains a small player in the global automotive industry, thus the need for cost sharing on new model development.

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China's Geely to Enter UK Market in 2012 with £10,000 Emgrand EC7

Only a week after Geely's Emgrand EC7 became the first Chinese vehicle to receive a respectable four out of five star safety rating under the Euro NCAP crash tests, and the owner of Volvo Cars announced that it is getting ready to enter the UK’s new car market with the first models to arrive at the end of 2012. Read more »

Geely Concepts

Geely will unveil three new concept cars and the first Geely-made London taxi at Auto Shanghai 2007.

Geely says its aim is to move away from the image of being a producer of bread-and-butter models and highlight its R&D ability. The company also intends to take what it calls "active steps" to enter the North American and European markets. The trio of concepts being showcased at Shanghai point to that goal with their modern engines and greatly improved quality.

Pride of place goes to an updated version of the Meirenbao (Beauty Leopard) sport coupe. An observer can be forgiven for wondering what happened to the rest of the car.

Next comes the Vision II, an updated version of the Vision that started as the FC-1 midsize sedan from the 2005 Frankfurt show. Very little information is available on this car ahead of the unveiling.

The third model will be a second version of the King Kong; the original went on sale last year.

The Geely stand will be further enlivened by the appearance of a prototype China-built London taxi. Last year Geely and the British Manganese Bronze Holdings Plc, proprietor of London Taxis International signed a memorandum of understanding on Chinese production of the iconic London taxicab. After the show's unveiling, production models are scheduled to be built beginning in 2008. The company hopes to raise production to 20,000, destined for both local and export markets.