Geely set to unveil mid-tier brand

Chinese billionaire Li Shufu will test whether there's room for another global car brand by introducing a new marque next week, built on technology jointly developed by his two car companies, Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd and Volvo Cars.

The new brand, called Lynk & Co, will be unveiled on Oct 20 in Berlin and share its underpinnings with Volvo Cars models. Sales are slated to start in the second half of next year, with the first model likely being a sport utility vehicle, according to Geely Auto Chief Executive Officer Gui Shengyue, declining to provide more details ahead of the official announcement.

"The new brand carries great importance for Geely's development," Gui said in a telephone interview on Thursday. "We are currently competing against other local car brands, as well as high-end brands with Volvo Cars." Lynk & Co will help Geely fight against other mass-market foreign brands, he said.