[VolvoGoteborg]

Thanks for sharing. Not sure why they think the EX30 will be paired with the Polestar 4 as I thought that is an XC60 sized coupe-SUV. Akin to the relationship between the EX90 and the Polestar 3.

 

[VolvoGoteborg]

Wow ... this seems lazy.

What's lazy?

 

[VolvoGoteborg]

Ah I see. Saves space I guess...

 

[VolvoGoteborg]

Like the 850 and phase one X40s too

 

[VolvoGoteborg]

Getting crowded with Smart, Zeekr and Volvo all making SEA based small crossovers....

 

[VolvoGoteborg]

Yes so on the one hand you make more models using the same platform and behind the scenes / unseen by customer hardware. So economies of scale. But that only really works if you have those products in different segments otherwise (as VW and Stellantis (= Vauxhall/Opel/GM Europe/ Peugeot/Citroen/Fiat/Chrysler) have found) you end up competing for the same market segment and price with e.g. 3 vehicles of your own rather than 1 i.e. segment is 1,000,000 units a year and you've now got 3 cars in there vs competitors instead of just competing with one model. Harder to get the volume per model of your own to make investment back.

Smart and Volvo are in very different segments so that separates the Smart #1 from the EX30. I'm not sure what Zeekrs positioning is and how it differs from Geely or Lynk and Co or Geometry. One problem is the first Zeekr model (the 001) looks like a Lynk and Co as well! Geometry is Geely's EV only brand but not sure where it goes long term as Geely, Lynk and Co pivot to EV so what does Geometry become? Or does it disappear?

Speculate that Lynk and Co is a bit above Geely in terms of price and brand, Geometry is EV only for now, Zeekr is ?

Feels like it's starting to be too many brands....

 

[VolvoGoteborg]

Thanks medels

The overlap seems to be more for Geely, Geometry, Lynk and Co i.e. mainstream brands in the same space. So far Geely has remained in China, Asia and Middle East, same for Geometry (but less so outside of China) and Lynk and Co has led the company's move into Europe. Proton has so far re-branded Geely models for the Malaysian market but not further afield - and why would Proton be in other markets as there they are Geelys branded as Geelys.

Don't really see what Zeekr is and with them offering a large hatchback/fastback EV and next and MPV, sedan confirmed and an SUV I'm a little lost what they are as a brand vs Geely, Geometry and Lynk and Co.

Not sure what really distinguishes them one from the other....

 

[VolvoGoteborg]

Zeekr is high end, Geometry is low end EV. LynkCo will have mid-level EV too.
Volvo is luxury and P* is luxury sporty level.
Zeekr X (EX30, Smart #1 size) is just announced.
Geometry EV is based on old chassis, and don't know how long it will be kept.
All EVs will move to SEA platform as I can imagine.

Hi, ok I get that for Geometry vs Zeekr in terms of products so far in China but I don't really get the clear differentiation between Zeekr, Lynk and Co and Geely. Feels too much overlap. Ok so maybe Geely at the bottom, middle is Lynk and Co and then top is Zeekr. But if Zeekr is heading to the EU as well then how does Volvo and Polestar sit in that mix as well? There's soon to be Smart #1, Volvo EX30 and Zeekr TBC all in the same segment and size of product. Struggling to see the clear differentiation between the brands. I fear Geely is making too many similar products in the same segment i.e. each brand makes their version of the same thing. The total market size is the same. You're just dividing the cake across 3 or 4 brands of your own and risking making enough / selling enough to robustly cover development expenditure. The hope is the subtle differences and in effect oversupply between each version of the same offer for the same market segment brings you more sales from competitors. It's the way VW behaves (VW, Seat, Skoda) and is a strategy that has come unstuck before. In contrast Toyota make a shedload more of a single product for the segment leading to greater profits and a faster recoup of the development costs.

 

[VolvoGoteborg]

There's a very interesting interview (which I will endevour to find and post) with Peter Horbury after a few years as head of global design at Geely talking about what makes a car designed for or aligned with Chinese market tastes. Patterns and details in materials or trim finishes which aren't a Western consumer thing or preference. Plus he mentioned how to tweak a car to suit both markets with sections of trim or options so one base design can go to both markets. Local adaption of a Western designed car or vice versa or ideally doing it in parallel as the two are developed so it becomes more so a suite of trim options on the same interior backing etc. Yes Volvo is Scandinavian but their last Swedish chief designer was Jans Wilsgaard (1950-1991) and Peter Horbury who took over in 1992 is British, next Steve Mattin also British (his Volvos the S60 and V60 were accused of looking too Asian in their design), next Peter Horbury again (British), then Thomas Ingenlath (German) then Robin Page (British). Yet all that time Volvo was leveraging Scandinavian design. Design studios in California, Madrid, Goteborg and now Shanghai. Truely multinational design team designing "Scandinavian cars". Same is true of German brands too. Design studios all over the world.