Geely set to sell Emgrand cars at Alibaba online store

Shanghai, June 21 (Gasgoo.com) Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, a private Chinese automaker who is buying Ford Motor's Volvo car unit, is starting to sell its Emgrand-branded cars at Alibaba.com's online store, media reported today.

Geely signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China's largest online retailer Alibaba Group on June 18 in Zhejiang province's capital city of Hangzhou, where the two companies headquartered, to promote and sell vehicles of Geely's sub-brand Emgrand on the Alibaba's legendary retail platform.

Sources said that Geely Group has planned its online retail mode for some time, with the "Gleagle-Panda" as the company's basic sales model, as it is more suited to young buyers' demands, but now the Emgrand brand is also listed as another option for online purchase of Geely vehicles.

Compared with the conventional store sales, special versions of certain models with unique equipment will be offered at the online-shops, said a sales executive of Geely. However, it remains to be seen which car model of Geely's Emgrand brand will make its debut when its Alibaba e-store opens early next year.

Geely sees online business as an effective platform to offer consumers more auto information and sales service. The cooperation with Alibaba is a new addition to the carmaker's traditional sales mode, also an innovation for the all-around development of China's auto industry.