Geely Automobile is ambitious. The Chinese company produced 2 million cars in 2006 and aims to produce 20 million cars in 2015. It's not quite ready to sell in the U.S. but the company says it is inevitable...
The LTI pictured above is exactly what it looks like -- a London Taxi. Not a clone of a London Taxi, but the real thing. Geely entered an agreement to produce it in China as part of a joint venture.
Aside from the LTI, Geely produces cars comprised of Chinese intellectual property, and that includes powertrains -- it doesn't borrow major hardware components from other manufacturers.
Taking a gander at the FC sedan pictured above, it's pretty clear the company won't have GM or Toyota in a stranglehold anytime soon. However, caution would state that other automakers keep their eyes on Geely, else be blindsided by a Hyundai-like ascent into maturity. -- Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor, Inside Line
roar02ram says:
02:54 PM, 01/14/08
Why is a diesel in a London taxi a twist? All of them are diesels.
jkavanagh says:
03:09 PM, 01/14/08
Translation error at my end. Fixed the post.
cassiohui says:
03:14 PM, 01/14/08
"Geely entered an agreement to produce it in China as part of a joint venture with Rolls Royce and Bentley." <- just curious, when was this joint venture announced? it's probably me being forgetful, but i really don't remember RR and Bentley joining venture with Geely.
jerome10 says:
10:13 AM, 01/15/08
I strolled through Cobo last Thursday night after the Wings game. The main exhibition hall was guarded, and everything you could see through the doors was covered.
But in the front of Cobo sat this very Geely stand. Nobody guarding anything. Cars just sitting there. I had to take a look.
These cars are disgustingly badly built. The gap on the taxi between the fender and hood was big enough to insert my entire finger through. The sedan was unlocked, so I hopped in. Trim gaps were awful, panels misaligned, trim on the center console and doors were warping off. And while I didn't expect much in material quality, I didn't get much either. This car feels about, or maybe even slightly worse than those old Daewoos from about 10 years ago (the Leganza and Lanos).
I can only imagine the performance and reliability of these things. Don't overlook them, but based on what I saw, Geely would be laughed out of the US if it sold such a car here. They'd be best to get their act together before attempting it, or they'll destroy their reputation before they even have one.
iskch says:
10:48 AM, 01/15/08
The only way they can sell those cars is to offer them real cheap. Remember the Yugo and the Hyundai Excel?
daytona_500 says:
07:08 PM, 01/15/08
Even if they are cheap, it doesnt matter, you could get a quality used car for the same price.