Geely Holding, Hunan provincial government ally on NEV industry cluster building, digital transition

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On December 21, the People's Government of Hunan Province and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group ("Geely Holding") signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement at Geely Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group ("Farizon Auto")'s manufacturing base in Xiangtan city.

Photo credit: Geely Holding

This collaboration will encompass various domains such as the practices of the "Belt and Road" initiative, the development of a new energy vehicle industry cluster, talent education, and digital transformation.

First Farizon SuperVAN; photo credit: Geely

During the signing ceremony, Farizon Auto's Xiangtan base was officially inaugurated, with the first Farizon SuperVAN rolling off the assembly line. Riding on the GXA-M architecture that supports drive-by-wire technology, this electric cargo van model is designed to meet future needs in intelligent driving and smart city logistics scenarios.

According to the agreement, leveraging Geely's automotive high-tech valley park in Tanjong Malim, Malaysia, the company aims to contribute to Hunan's economic transformation and upgrading, support local companies in going global and attracting foreign investments.

Besides, Geely Holding said it will introduce more new energy passenger and commercial vehicle models to Hunan province, expand the variety of new energy vehicles at the Xiangtan base, enhance the supports from locally sourced automobile components, and drive the development of the automotive parts industry.

The collaboration will also focus on advancing the deployment of electric vehicle charging and battery swapping infrastructures, creating a methanol-hydrogen power ecosystem, expanding vehicle and component exports, and exploring comprehensive cooperation in digitalization, intelligence, and green development.

Geely has already established a prominent presence in Xiangtan city, building an industrial ecological chain and industrial cluster encompassing vehicle manufacturing, component enterprises, talent education, and more. The Xiangtan base for Farizon Auto began construction at the end of October 2022, serving as China's first commercial vehicle manufacturing factory to apply the concept of a "sponge city."