Oct 21: A new brand

Just when you were convinced, that there are quite enough car brands in this world, one more is being launched. In case you have been sleeping or worse (watching the Trump/Clinton debates), you may have missed this important new introduction. I know I did, and I'm in the car business and obsessed by anything new (this happens when one leads a cloistered existence). The big news is that Geely, that huge Chinese industrial company is adding to their portfolio of brands.

First they bought struggling Volvo from Ford and have resurrected it very nicely, thank you. Now they are bringing out a new sub brand, called, wait for it, Lynk & Co. Unusual, but maybe that what is needed to bring attention to this new product.........

Not all the details are out, but this smaller suv is apparently built on a Volvo platform. The name, wait for it yet again, is the 01. Simple. All other new Lynk & Co vehicles will follow along with this nomenclature...... .....02,03,04,etc. I can see it now, "Hey, is that the new 07?" and eventually, "Hey, is that the new 083?". Either way, this company and model is supposed to signify a new way to buy cars. Sort of a combination of the Tesla model, throw in some online info and for a very nice touch, delivery right to your door. All things that have been done before, but now they will be all mixed together and sold to the world as something new and different. When? No exact date, but initially being rolled out in China, with the rest of the world to follow, including the US (2018).

Funny how Geely is firmly entrenched in North America with Volvo, and eventually Lynk & Co, but nothing under their own name. Why? Usually, it would be because of product and right now, that could be a valid reason. Their line up in their mother country is extensive.......

.....but with the exception of the top pictured Emgrand GT, most are nothing special, including the old Rav4 looking Emgrand X7. I'm sure the redesigns will make them presentable and palatable to a wider and more discerning audience.

Geely is nothing if not imaginative, as one can see with this concept shown a few years back......

This, by the way, is its best view, as the front end would cause sleepless nights to small children everywhere, even making the odd adult have nightmares. But if a sporty concept is not in your future plans, how about an uber luxury model like the Geely SE, seen at Chinese government functions everywhere......

So, want to see a Geely in the flesh on this side of the Pacific? Venture to Cuba, my friends........

.....or the Middle East (pick your country)........

For the rest of us, a longer wait will be the norm, even though our brand new 01 will have the Geely name behind it. Just what the world needs, another automobile brand.

Until next time.....