China's Geely to quadruple car output in Ukraine

Shanghai. March 18 (Gasgoo.com) –China's largest private automaker Geely plans to expand its cooperation with Ukraine partner АИС and lift its car output in Ukraine to 25,000 vehicles this year from 5,000 vehicles last year, the company's chief sales official told local media in Ukraine.

 

Initially, Geely plans to make 11,000 vehicles in Ukraine. However, the company decided to raise its  output target due to growing market demands for Geely vehicles. The 25,000  target will be achieved primarily by CKD production in Ukraine. The company official also said it is possible that Geely may raise output capacity in Ukraine to 30,000 this year.

 

Currently Geely has 17 dealerships in Ukraine, but the company is planning to add additional 50 dealers in the country.

 

Earlier this month, Li Shufu, board chairman of the Geely Group said at the sidelines of China Political Consultative Conference in Beijing that Geely plans to export 70,000-80,000 vehicles to Central and South America, Southeast Asia and European markets.

 

Li also indicated that Geely has no plan to raise car prices despite raising steel prices. “We will absorb the impact of steel price hikes on our own. On the other hand, we will try to improve our profit-making ability by raising our technological standards and developing new products.”

 

Geely expects to sell 300,000 vehicles this year, including both domestic sales and exports, Li said.

 

Last year, the Geely Group exported nearly 30,000 vehicles, an increase of 130% year-on-year. By the end of last year, the Group exported an aggregate amount of 70,000 vehicles over the past few years.