Geely Automobile Group
82Geely - is it an emerging Auto Giant ?
Ok lets be honest now! Who has heard of the Geely Automobile Group company, yes you heard right The Geely Auto company.
Hmm, oh yes over there>>. One hand up. I can see why you would have heard of Geely because you are from China.
Well I have a confession to make! I had never heard of Geely until the other night when I heard that Geely cars, starting with the Geely MK fitted a 1.5 litre engine, are now being sold here in Australia for an almost unbelievably low price.
I'll bet good money that Ford and General Motors have 'heard' of Geely! In fact Ford have had dealings with Geely already.
To give you some idea agout Geely it was the Geely Automotive Group that in 2010 bought the Volvo Car Corp from Ford Motor Company for a reported $2 billion. This was only a few years after Ford Motor Company had paid a reported $6 billion. I would say that was good buying?
Ford and General Motors
First lets consider whether Geely can cause headaches for the big players in the Automotive Industry, companies like Ford Motor Company and General Motors in particular.
Do Geely have clout? Maybe not yet but I am a firm believer that anything made in China that is given the backing of the Chinese Government with their seemingly new found love of Capitalism will succeed in any market that gets their attention.
Let me add that I'm not advocating this as a bad thing. I also believe that the 'big' companies like Ford, GM and some Japanese Auto Manufacturers have had it there own way for too long!
Geely MK Sedan
Now about the car: The initial vehicle being imported to Australia is the Geely MK compact (it is only available in WA) is being sold at a price making it Australia's lowest priced car, a tick under A$12,000 , and yes that is 'drive away'. The Dealer is offering the Geely MK with a factory supplied 5 year/100,000 km warranty.
The Geely MK comparable in size to the Toyota Yaris comes with a 1.5litre engine producing 95kW of power and a claimed 128Nm of torque, much more than the other low price contenders like the Proton.
At the time of writing the MK only comes with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
The safety features are minimal but the Geely MK must comply with the strict Australian Standards.
Geely to succeed in Australia ????
Will Geely succeed in Australia ? If past history is anything to go on I would say that long term it will definitely be a player and not a small one. In my opinion for Geely to be a large player in the Australian Auto Industry the bare minimum it will need to do is to set up a nation wide dealer network with state of the art workshops and all of the time earning the trust of the buying public by honoring its promised 5 year/100,000 km warranty. A time frame for this would be anything up to 5 years of hard work.
The man who is bringing the Geely
MK car to Australia is definitely not your average used car dealer.
He is John Hughes who is the man responsible for bringing the now
highly successful Korean brand Hyundai to Australia. Hyundai is now
Australia's 5th highest selling car manufacturer.
So they seem to be off to a good start!
Geely Automobile Group
Let me give you some idea about the Geely Company. As I said earlier Geely purchased Volvo from Ford in 2010, this is a very good fit with their other models as Volvo rates well in China and regarded more as a Luxury car. 'Savy' buying if you ask me!
Although I have seen other Chinese manufactured goods imported to Australia and fail due to bad 'factory' support I am of the opinion that the consequences of failure are too high for the Chinese Government to allow failure to be an option.
Geely Automobile Holdings as recent as last month have
stated again that they are planning to have a growth curve from 2010 to
2015 of 150% with annual sales in the region of 2million cars across
their range. All this and still promising to deliver a very healthy
profit in the region of US$30 billion.
Now that is what I call putting it on the line!
Progress of the Geely MK
From the few Press reports that I have read the Geely MK is not the most brilliant car in the world. I have heard that the brakes are not good !
What do you expect from the lowest priced car on the market. Well here are a few things that I come up with off the top of my head:
- First and foremost I would want reliability. A car that will get me from Point A to Point B safely and 100 % of the time.
- Not have my hand in my pocket seemingly 24/7 for servicing and fuel.
- Comfort comes in about now, although not looking for Rolls Royce comfort I would expect the car to cover a certain distance without my bum going numb!
- Bits not falling off the car all of the time. In other words a good build quality!
- If any problems did occur I would want the supplier to look after me with respect and honesty.
Although all of the above would be nice some may say 'tell him he's dreaming' even the big players like Ford Motor Company and General Motors don't deliver that do they?
Would you buy a Geely MK Compact Sedan
Would you buy a Geely just because it is the cheapest car on the market?
See results without votingCommentsLoading...
Thanks for dropping by ed77burns :-)
Your right I have never heard of Geely till now. Thanks for providing such useful info... I also like your sense of humor. ( the one man from China raising his hand ) classic
With an intuitive marketing strategy,Geely would find a niche market at best in the U.S.,thanks for sharing agvulpes.;)
Geely have several manufacturing plants in Europe and some other countries. Russia, Ukraine,Turkey, Malaysia and Indonesia etc. In Srilanka Micro Car company assembles Geely MK as Micro MX7 and exports to Nepal. I am right when I wrote "China will become worlds top car exporter. But when? When are we seeing (and driving) Chinese cars, Chinese branded cars with Chinese badges. I am sure it will be sooner than we think." in my hub on Chinese cars. You have got lot of info in your hub..Thumbs up for a great hub.
Informative and "useful." Flag up!
agvulpes - Geely should do OK in Australia. If the motors fail to start, the Aussies have a plentiful supply of "jumpers" for such emergencies. They call them, strangely enough, 'roos, real native jumpers if ever there were any.
Gus :-)))
Mrs. J. B. Thanks for dropping in and I'm glad that I was able to inform and amuse you at the same time.
And they said I could not 'multi-task' :-)
@Mentalist acer, I know that the Automotive industry in America is massive and therefore even as a 'niche' market Geely will do very well.
However I think it would be very foolish for the US car manufacturers like Ford and General Motors to not take the threat from Geely very seriously.
My suggestion would be to come to some sort of commercial agreement with them BEFORE Geely get too powerful a hold on the market.
Cheers
agvulpes :-)
@Sun Pen 50 thanks for your great contribution to the discussion. I agree with you about China becoming the worlds top exporter for cars, with Geely being at the top of the list.
Anyone who underestimates the trading abilities of the Chinese is in for a big shock.
The mining resources people here in Australia would attest to that!
When will we see Chinese badged cars on our roads? My guess is that it will be 'sooner' rather than 'later'
Cheers and thanks for dropping by :-)
@dallas93444 Thanks for taking the time to read my Hub on the Geely motor company and leaving such a supportive comment
Cheers from agvulpes :-)
@Gus LOL. oh yes we have plenty of jumpers here in Australia.
Unfortunately they won't stay still long enough for us to connect them up to the battery :-)
Awesome and powerful hub, we here is the USA need to do this and do it now...we are becoming the very rich and the very very poor, and if we as a country, we need to learn from the Chineese people's....I remember when the Saturn first came out, it was made in the USA and cost below $10,000. Now it's up in cost like the rest...Rate up peace & love darski
@Darlene Sabella thanks for the vote of support :-)
I'm with you on what you are saying. Not so long ago a very well know person said that Australia was in danger of becoming a nation of 'traders'. The Auto Industry is a classic example of that situation. We have lost virtually all manufacturing of auto components to countries like China that can produce things cheaply. (lets not mention quality) The only Auto manufacturers of any note left in Australia are Ford Motor Company and General Motors Holden (parent company General Motors) with some Toyota production in Victoria.
All the others like VW, Nissan, Mitsubishi have close up shop. It just ain't worth it for them. Who can blame the Chinese for identifying a market and moving in with their Geely range of vehicles ?
darski thanks again for the support :-)
I'm inclined to agree with you agvulpes, China will eventually get the quality right and when they do, they will, like Hyundai grab market share in Australia and elsewhere.
You will see the price rise as the quality improves though. China is no longer insulated from the costs associated with good plants and top engineers. I believe they will go the way of the Koreans, steadily getting better and dearer. Volvo has been losing money hand over fist for donkey's years, so a new lease of life is called for.
A very interesting and no doubt controversial hub mate.
@earnestshub it's nice to hear from someone who keeps his eye on the auto news, thanks for partaking in this discussion.
I'm not trying to be controversial just 'stating the facts' as Joe Friday used to say.
There's and old saying which I think is appropriate.
'None so blind as those who will not see' or the one about 'ostrich with its head in the sand'. I'm referring to the dinosaur auto manufacturers like Ford and GM.
If they don't wake up and see what companies like Geely Automobile are actually 'doing' now, it will be to late the horse will have bolted.
I usually don't know what car I am going to buy until I buy it. When I am next in the market for a car, hopefully several years from now I will search the market then. I fthis car is still around it might be a good one.
G'day dahoglund thanks for dropping by :-)
We may all be surprised at how many people do the same thing as you when buying a car.
In a way it does make sense, especially in these days. With the advances in Technology and new players like Geely coming forward seemingly daily why lock yourself into ideas that become 'outdated' so quickly.
I have got no doubt that the quality of the Geely and for that matter other products made in China will only improve with the passage of time.
Thanks again for adding to our discussion :-)
Hi agvulpes, the Chineese will be building a bridge over to here next, or invading us. With Borders hitting the dust, it's only a matter of time before rickshaws will be the only vehicles we'll be able to buy. Best make the most of that Geely in the mean time. Cheers from the north.
G'day attemptedhumour how are you doing? The inscrutable Chinese have no reason to invade our shores unless of course as tourists :-) They are doing very nicely here already. Does anyone know how much of our ground they own already?
I have no sympathy for Borders just the poor people that are being duped by paying big dollars for Gift Cards and then the cards not being honored.
Well mate if Richshaws are the only means of transport think of all the opportunities for jobs, you had better grab the master franchise, and the amount of greenhouse gasses that would be saved :-)
Man the world would be saved and all thanks to the Chinese!
Great informative hub , thanks for sharing.
Imchemist , your welcome and thanks for dropping by :-)
I am doubting that the car would cost you lots of money for fixing lots of things too often shortly after you buy it. :)
@forkhyun, I do agree with you that reliability may be a big problem for Geely Automotive. This is possibly a reason why they are offering a 5year warranty period.
Although on the plus side for Geely they have had lots of experience in the motor industry already.
Thanks for dropping by :-)
Well researched hub. I was instantly alerted when you wrote 100,000km warranty. Here in the US, the Hyundai had a 100,000 mile warranty when they ignited their campaign to pull their reputation out of the mud. I think they still offer it. 100,000 miles is about as far as you want to go with a new American car here, and then some major repairs have to be done. Is it the same in Australia? Hyundai still does not have a great reputation but they are all over the place - they're a great deal. I wonder if the Greely will be the same way.
The brake issue makes the Greely a big loser for me, I wouldn't get one. I do wish they would bring the VW Polo from Europe though. Then again, I have become a big car "aficionado" since I own 2 high mileage SUV's. One backs up the other when they're in the shop :-) So I'm not the one to ask about reliability and making wise decisions! If I were smart, I would own a Toyota Corolla or a Honda Accord.
G'day Alexander thanks for taking the time to drop by and leave a great comment:-)
Yes any company prepared to back up their product with 100,000km warranty is worth looking at, however there has to be a lot of water pass under the bridge before I would consider buying a Geely myself. I have seen too many Chinese Companies fall over here due to lack of poor quality product, poor after-sales service and virtually no spare parts in the country.
I'm glad you raised the subject of Hyundai, they have over the last few years been kicking goals and now seem to be getting a fair share of the market.
They are offering some great product such as the new i20 which incidently beat the VW Golf as Class car of the year in 2010 and I quote:
"As a first effort in this category, the new i20 has been able to punch ahead of other competitors including the Volkswagen Polo, which in itself is a pretty good effort in a very competitive market,” said Mark Borlace, Chief Judge Australia’s Best Cars."
Hyundai are also offering this amazing warranty and I again quote from their brochure:
"The 5 Year / Unlimited kilometre warranty is only applicable to vehicles used for private and domestic use".
I see you are still driving SUVs, my needs of vehicle have gone past the big car stage and I'm considering moving on from the Ford Falcon to something smaller and because of its age it will need some major repairs before long.
Cars I have in mind would be like yourself a Toyota but prob the Yaris, or a Honda - Jazz and I will even have a look at the 'i' series Hyundais with the great warranty.
Thanks again for dropping by and sharing your thoughts :-)
I think the Falcon line is more like a mid-size car over here, I looked at Wikipedia and it looks like a cross between a Ford Taurus and a Jaguar.
I had a Falcon once, a four door 1969 with a burbling 302. Loved it. It's interesting the differences in vehicle options between similar (relatively) countries, and how down in Australia, you still have car pickups like the El Camino and I just discovered there is a Falcon pickup too!
The i20 is a great looking little car, hope you have the diesel option down there. If the i20 comes here, you can bet it won't be diesel, the big car manufacturers don't want that kind of competition.
G'day Alexander, thanks for dropping back and adding to the discussion. Our Falcon was fashioned on your Falcon and in fact used some of the parts when yours was phased out. I have actually done a homage to our 50 years of Falcon that may interest you:
AH the sounds of a burbling 302 Love it myself lol
Our 'pick-ups' here are called 'utilities' and are not a large as your 'pick-ups' they are generally the same size as the relative sedan. They are also being made now in a 4 door version with a 'ute' back!
I believe the i20 is only available in the 'petrol' model. I'm not a big fan of diesel as it is more expensive here than petrol and not available at all 'servos'
The modern Falcon is based on the old platform? I thought the Panther platform was mid-size! I will definitely read that hub, the Australian line of Fords fascinate me, ever since Mad Max :-D
Thanks for teaching a little Aussie terminology - servos are gas stations right?
As far as diesel, I know in Holland the way the tax system is set up, it's only worth having a diesel if you commute a long distance. The great thing about older diesels is that a lot of people convert them to veggie burners. You can drive virtually for free if you're willing to put up with the hassle of refining the french fry grease in your garage and converting your vehicle. It's so cool when a diesel Benz drives by and it smells like french fries.
I don't recognize the Panther platform you mention in your comment? Yes Mad Max was a great advert for Ford!
Yes lol name 'Servos' harks back to the days when 'Petrol (gas) Stations' actually gave you 'drive way service'
You know, when someone, with a smile, actually came out and filled your tank, cleaned your wind screen, looked under the bonnet etc. Sometimes they even checked the tyres. lol
Iv'e heard a bit about this 'veggie burning' bio-fuel is that what it is called ?
Your pulling my leg, right? You can't really smell the 'french fries' lol You should write a Hub about the topic! Maybe Geely should bring a veggie-burning model to Australia ?
Actually, I found out about the "panther" platform years ago when I was looking up the Falcon XB - the one used in Mad Max was for sale on Ebay here. I hadn't paid much close attention to it otherwise which is why I forgot that it was a full size.
As for the smelling french fries when a veggie conversion goes by, I am not kidding - I have smelled it myself. They don't sell diesels that way, you have to get an older car with a diesel (non-turbo I think) and install heaters for the grease and an extra tank, and you have to build a makeshift refinery to filter the vegetable oil. I have even heard of old diesels running on transmission oil and turpentine!
We don't have too many full service stations here either, but up in Oregon, the law states that you are not allowed to pump your own fuel. They don't smile though, and they don't check your oil and tire pressure :-(
I used to work at a full service station and it was funny when people would drive up and tell me their oil light was on and "is that bad?" They were usually 2 or 3 quarts low!
I'm putting the veggie conversion hub on my list - thanks for the idea!
Can you fill me in about the 'panther' platform either here or in a 'hub'. I have never heard of it!
From your description of the amount of work required and your garage and car may smell like a 'fish and chip' shop the effort hardly seems worth while. That's besides the fact that the 'Town Council' would more than likely refuse a permit for a 'refinery' in your backyard lol
I have had the same experiences with people who know next to nothing about cars. Like when the first VW came out: 'wheres the petrol tank' How many people put water in the petrol tank:-)
Looking forward to reading your Hub :-D
A quick search revealed almost nothing concerning the panther platform as it pertains to the Falcon, but over here, the Panther platform was used for the large sedans like the Lincoln Town Car and the Crown Victoria in the late 80's to today. In fact, my 1990 Country Squire station wagon sits in a Panther platform. Don't ask me why it's called that, it seems like every other platform is designated with letters and numbers. Don't worry, almost no one here knows about the Panther platform either ;-)
If I ever do a hub about Australian cars, I will definitely do some more research.
Of course you put water in the tank of a VW, that's where the radiator is right? And why is there an engine in the back? What's that for? Ha ha.
I will get back to the other comment area as soon as I find a good picture of the Tahoe, one that looks like mine - it is a base model for government use.
nice hub! Thanks for sharing.
@Alexander Mark my guess is that the panther is not known here because we don't build the bigger cars here in OZ Falcon and Commodore would be the biggest anything bigger would be imported. Hmm so that's why my VW bug would not run properly ? lol
Our government seems to be going green and is trying out the hybrid Toyota Prius and some electric cars.
@Leisurelife thanks so much for dropping in and reading about Geely Automotive. I'm pretty sure they will emerge as a giant in the industry:-)
Heard of the name Geely, but really did not know anything about it until reading your hub. I can see you are a car enthusiast, and this is a timely topic to write about.
G'day SweetiePie. It was quite a shock to me to find out that the Chinese would bother trying to sell a brand here in Australia. For the life of me I cannot see how they could possibly expect to corner a large share of the market.
The market is pretty well covered by the big three in Ford, Holden (General Motors) and Toyota.
I was working and running my own business in the Auto Industry for close on 40 years up until my retirement at the turn of the Century.
Here in the US the Chinese are taking over many markets, and even buying US auto companies like Hummer. I do not mean to be 100% isolationist, but I am not real pro buying everything China. In some stores today, every single thing is made in China.
Wow SweetiePie I had not heard about the Chinese buying Hummer, thanks for the update!
Here in Australia we are having the same experience with them. Just tonight we heard on the news that certain fruit had been imported, supposedly from New Zealand but it has been discovered it had originally had come from China and arrived in Australia via NZ.
Tomorrow we are off looking at a new Fridge, where do you suppose that was made? lol
That has been an informative hub. Thanks for sharing with us :)
Geely does appear to be making inroads into the Australian motor Industry.
ed77burns 15 months ago
Great technology.