Geely Freedom Cruiser assembled in Malaysia
Zhejiang Geely Automotive Company is China’s biggest privately-owned automaker and specialises in making budget cars for first-time buyers like it’s 1.3 liter Geely Merrie which looks like a mutated Mercedes Benz and the 1.6 liter Geely Freedom Cruiser. Other models produced by Geely includes funky names like Uliou, Maple, Urban Nanny and Beauty Leopard.
Most of Geely’s models are based on a 1987 Daihatsu Charade. Their engineers truly know how to milk the most out of a platform, with small cars, medium sized cars and even vans (Urban Nanny) being based on the 1987 Daihatsu Charade platform. For those who do not remember platform model years, the 1987 model is the G100.
Geely will be the first automaker from China to assemble cars outside of China at it’s plant here in Kuantan. The Geely plant in Kuantan is owned by Information Gateway Corporation Sdn Bhd. The plans had been delayed so far because of the NAP, and pending approval from our government. The government has given the go ahead, so production is expected to start soon.
Geely will be assembling the Geely Freedom Cruiser here in Malaysia in 1.3 and 1.6 engine options. Geely may make 2 other larger models in the 1.8 liter engine range later. The Freedom Cruiser is said to be based on a Daewoo design, with engines design licensed from Toyota.
These cars are meant for the export market, with almost all of them destined to be shipped out around the region. The target sales for the Malaysian market is so low that it’s almost negligible.
Geely rove Malaysia rong time!
Source: Wikipedia Geely 7151CK Freedom Cruiser, Shanghai Daily
March 7, 2006 @ 1:58 pm
Wooo… see hoow cheap these cars can go. Photos & review please!
March 7, 2006 @ 2:52 pm
i tot the model is based on the 1977 nissan datsun?!!
i tink thy wil make a car that looks 100% like a wira n sell as a geely brand! wat a chaos !
March 7, 2006 @ 4:43 pm
Weird name for a car manufacturer. Does it sounds like “geli” to me?
March 7, 2006 @ 8:19 pm
This one is the worst brand in China and it’s name is so “geli”…And the cars it produced are all junk. If you want to sort out Chinese brand, Cherry would be a better one.
March 7, 2006 @ 9:26 pm
made in china = junk
made in malaysia this time = ?
March 7, 2006 @ 9:27 pm
it’s junk2… LOL!
March 7, 2006 @ 10:11 pm
Well, not all China made are junk. They have made a lot of improvement for a short period of time. Unlike Potong, old model sell for more than 20 years…can goto junk yard lol..
March 7, 2006 @ 11:12 pm
nola, i think geely just testing first in malaysia…………..the boss oso say got “uncertainties” in malaysia. so , i think they will shift to other country once their export is going up or there are clearly better offer overseas.
March 8, 2006 @ 8:30 am
proton is still selling old models today from 20 years ago which is not very smart, but at least they now have 3 of their own developed cars on the market, with another new one coming in a couple of months.
we can laugh at china now, but with their huge resources, and almost 100 car and truck manufacturers, its only a matter of time before they start building quality cars.
March 8, 2006 @ 8:46 am
Proton is on the right track of improvement by developing its own model beginning with the Waja. However, they are still using other manufacturers chassis as the basis for each development which they are always trying to deny. Most of the new model produced by Proton looks nice but fall short in terms of fitting, features and functionality which I think they are still trying to get it right.
Furthermore, please be reminded someown had mentioned before that “The Japanese took 20 years to established their cars, Korean tooks only 10 years and the Chinese surely could surely do it in a mere 5 years time. I am referring to export market only. Therefore, you can insults the China made cars now but sit back and observe a rapid improvement by them that you would not have seen here with our local boys, Proton.
March 8, 2006 @ 1:34 pm
platform sharing is a norm due to high investment cost.. i do not ming if proton wants to use VW passat as the basis for the PERDANA, and using bmw engine… mix and match sometimes equal better product.. but in china cars, it is just a load of puzzling rubbish
March 8, 2006 @ 5:04 pm
yup. platform sharing is not only the way to go for new car manufacturers, but its also the smart way to do business in todays environment.
proton just using the vw platform isnt going to mean a better proton. the waja platform today is already a very decent one by modern standards. Proton needs to make more universally appealing designs with quality interiors. If you gave them a merc e class platform, there is no point if what they put on top is ugly, and poor in quality.
Anyways, latest i’ve heard is, VW is in big trouble. the news is only starting to emerge now. they’re losing money like crazy, the boss is in danger of losing his job, and they’re fighting internally. Their subsidiaries are making money, but not enough. VW is also losing tons of money in China right now. Not everything is rosy with VW as well.
March 8, 2006 @ 5:06 pm
actually wanted to say that platform sharing is the way to go for new guys, but also good business practice for the established car makers.
paul, maybe you should look up new on VW’s currend situation.
March 24, 2006 @ 5:26 am
[...] I am slightly confused on how the government intends to promote Malaysia as a regional automotive hub. For one, it is stated that there will be no new manufacturing licenses issued until the current problem of overcapacity is resolved. The government also decides not to allow existing manufacturers to make available their excess facilities to third parties to assemble car models who compete directly with national car manufacturers. The Toyota Avanza which is currently assembled by Perodua at it’s plant in Rawang comes to mind. It is definitely a competitor to the Proton Waja as a family car. Is the government going to put an end to that partnership which seems to be going well? Assembling the Toyota Avanza has brought many benefits to Perodua. Available resources can be put to full use, and adhering to Toyota’s high QC standards has also lifted the entire Perodua plant’s QC standards as a whole. Basically I am interpreting this line as no more new manufacturing plants until Proton has no more problems clearing excess stock. Manufacturers like Geely will probably be stood up again. [...]
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