Geely group sales exceed 2.1 million units in 2020 – Geely Auto, Proton, Volvo PHEVs were bright spots

Geely group sales exceed 2.1 million units in 2020 – Geely Auto, Proton, Volvo PHEVs were bright spots

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH) has announced that its total group sales exceeded 2.1 million units in 2020. Under the holding group are three subsidiary units – Geely Auto Group, Volvo Car Group and Geely New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group – and eight brands.

Over 2.1 million is a good result for the Geely group as 2020 was a year dominated by the global coronavirus pandemic and many parts of the world had work stoppage to control the spread of Covid-19, including its home market of China.

Geely says that its brands performed resiliently amid the volatility of 2020 and “in the second half of the year, our brands saw a strong return to growth compared to the same period in the previous year”. ZGH did not share the exact 2020 sales figure beyond “exceeded 2.1m”, so perhaps the final tally was just shy of the 2019 total of 2.178 million units. Still a strong result with context.

The brands within Geely Auto Group – which are Geely Auto, Lynk & Co, Geometry, Proton and Lotus – returned to growth, partly through strategic initiatives including utilisation of the group’s latest modular architecture based models and global expansion efforts.

Geely Auto – which Hong Kong-listed holding company includes Lynk & Co and new EV brand Geometry – reported sales of 1.32 million units in 2020, increasing market share and retaining its position as the best-selling domestic brand in China for the fourth consecutive year. Geely also sold its 10 millionth vehicle last year, becoming the first Chinese brand to reach that mark. New models launched in 2020 included the Preface a.k.a. Xing Rui and Icon SUV.

Lynk & Co, the premium brand of the division, set new monthly sales records in the second half of the year and officially entered the European market with its first Lynk & Co Club in Amsterdam. The brand also unveiled its first fully electric concept model based on the new Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), the Zero. Geometry, the standalone EV brand, launched the Geometry C crossover with up to 550 km range.

Geely group sales exceed 2.1 million units in 2020 – Geely Auto, Proton, Volvo PHEVs were bright spots

Over to Proton, which Geely holds 49.9% stake in. The group says that the Malaysian brand “performed exceptionally” in spite of Covid-19 and movement restrictions in our country, growing 8.8% year-on-year and increasing its market share. Proton launched the X50 at the tail-end of 2020, and maintains its mission to be the top brand in Malaysia and top three in the ASEAN region.

Finally, Lotus, which Geely took majority control of when it invested in Proton. The British sports car company continued to make “significant investments” in its Hethel HQ, and internationally in operations and in developing its global dealer network. Sales rose 4% in 2020.

Moving on to the Volvo Car Group, which recovered from a challenging first half of 2020 with its strongest second-half sales performance in the company’s history. For the full year, Volvo saw sales decline by 6%, but outperformed many of its competitors with total sales of more than 660,000 units, gaining market share in its main sales regions.

The Swedish brand made significant progress in its drive towards 50% of global sales from electrified vehicles, with deliveries of “Recharge” electrified models more than doubling. In Europe, Recharge models comprised more than 29% of sales, making Volvo a regional leader for plug-in cars. In the US, the brand was the market leader for premium plug-in hybrids.

Over at the full electric brand Polestar, deliveries of the Polestar 2 coupe crossover EV started in the second half of 2020 in Europe and China. The brand’s first US deliveries started this month. The first Polestar Spaces outlets opened in major urban centres including London, Gothenburg, Shanghai, Beijing, New York and Los Angeles. Currently, there are more than 40 Polestar Spaces globally.

Lastly, the Geely New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group, established in 2016 with Farizon Auto and London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) as its arms. In 2020, Farizon launched the rather strange-looking FX pick-up truck in China, which is essentially the Geely Boyue Pro SUV with a mini bed hanging out at the rear.

The CV brand also completed several deals to supply its new hydrogen fuel cell buses to several cities in China. Globally, the brand formed new R&D and distribution partnership with leading companies in the Middle East.

LEVC, previously known as the London Taxi Company that made the famous black cabs, started deliveries of its new range-extended zero-emission light vans in late 2020. It’s quite clever and very high on utility – check out the LEVC VN5 here.

This year will see all brands under ZGH “remain committed to introducing new electrified models, exploring innovative business models and increasing cross-industry collaborations”. The Geely group will continue to expand globally, entering new markets and forming new global partnerships, the statement read.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Celup King on Jan 19, 2021 at 12:53 pm

    As I alwiz sez… Goodluck Proton! rebadged takpe, asalkan laku. Malu apo

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 3
  • Tahniah P1! Brightest spot in MY!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 2
  • John Geli on Jan 19, 2021 at 12:54 pm

    How about Great Wall Haval group sales ?

    No sales report also on BYD, FAW, Dongfeng, Changan, Chery, BAIC, Hongqi, JMC etc ?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Jaguh Global on Jan 19, 2021 at 1:03 pm

    Solid proof that Proton can compete in open market.

    So let’s remove or at least reduce the crazy car tax excise duties shall we ?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 4
    • PEJUANG on Jan 19, 2021 at 2:24 pm

      Yes, let P1 compete with the established brands at the same range of pricing. if they still outsell the rest and people genuinely trust/love the X70/X50, then props to them

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2
      • Sembang Kencang on Jan 19, 2021 at 2:49 pm

        Yes Proton X70 selling price should be same with Honda CRV Nissan Xtrail Toyota CHR RM150K because Proton said they can compete head-on with Honda Toyota quality last time.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
        • Truckers on Jan 19, 2021 at 3:21 pm

          X70 pricing is nearly touching CRV yeah only difference rm20k which most SUV buyers would not mind topping up if the car is good but why is X70 still holding top C-segment SUV throne? Is it due to being better AND cheaper?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
          • Sembang Kencang on Jan 19, 2021 at 5:34 pm

            If really better then sell it higher price than CRV.

            Ada berani telur ?

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 7
          • PEJUANG on Jan 19, 2021 at 6:16 pm

            Top spec-ed x70 vs base model CRV, obviously people will go for the better-equipped car unless they want that H badge to show off to their aweks or amois

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 4
          • Zahid on Jan 19, 2021 at 11:20 pm

            Ada telor tapi xde otak buatpe? Rather than asking Proton sell X70 at CRV pricing, why Honda not sell CRV at X70 pricing? Or do you got more money than otak to ask for higher prices?

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
          • Amran on Jan 20, 2021 at 11:08 am

            “Sembang kencang” is very apt your name as that is what you only do here – sembang kencang – asking to raise prices while you complain car prices is high.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
      • Avenger on Jan 19, 2021 at 2:51 pm

        Archaic taxation is to protect Perodua, not Proton. Proton had long ago welcomed the do away of unfair taxation on non-national cars. It was Perodua that protested everytime a do away is proposed.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
        • Betol Tak? on Jan 19, 2021 at 5:37 pm

          Really? MITI better remove car tax to prove your theory.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 5
          • Zahid on Jan 19, 2021 at 11:16 pm

            MITI can remove it as long Perodua renounce their title as ‘national carmaker’ and get taxed the same as Toyota et al. Ada bran?

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
    • Random slip on Jan 19, 2021 at 4:02 pm

      Missleading tho! All vehicles ED ‘excise duties’ tax goes to our Goverment pocket, how much depends on the percentage of CKD assembly vs the CBU. Its just one of the convenient the system excuses to silently blame it all on Proton. If you buy Saga a RM41000 (omv+ed+otr) The bank should calculate the interest on the OMV, minus the Excise tax figure. It supposed to be a singular Not double tax imposed on buyer.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • lilytan on Jan 19, 2021 at 2:06 pm

    Still far away from being national leader, far far away from being ‘regional top 3’

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 5
  • Congratulations and well done!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  • Covid19 Jaguh Kampung on Jan 19, 2021 at 3:02 pm

    prfft,

    dropped – 3.6%.

    Geely Holding saw 2020 sales exceeding 2.1 million units which might sound like good news but that figure accounts for a 3.6% loss compared to 2019.

    Geely Auto saw 1.32 million units sold in 2020 (despite a 3% loss) and retained its position as the best-selling Chinese brand for the fourth consecutive year.

    Elsewhere, Volvo Car Group saw sales declined by 6% with total sales of more than 660,000 vehicles in 2020.

    Geely Holding has also acknowledged Proton’s success in 2020 with its 8.8% growth as one of the few bright sparks of the year.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 5
    • International player on Jan 19, 2021 at 4:40 pm

      Bang, 2020 is a different kind of year, with global pandemic, u think all car makers can sustain their 2019 sales ke? Yes some might sell more cars but if you compare it globally, surely ade jatuh especially for expensive cars

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
    • jusknitting on Jan 19, 2021 at 4:56 pm

      I can’t blame you if you weren’t on earth during 2020. But looking at your nickname, I doubt that you were on other planet in 2020. So I assume you’re just ignorant.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
 

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