Geely, owners of Volvo, Lotus, London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) and Lynk & Co, has announced that it is opening a new UK design and innovation studio in Coventry in the West Midlands.
The new facility will eventually employ around 100 people and will be led by highly respected British designer Wayne Burgess, who Geely has poached from Jaguar Land Rover.
• Geely's new electric saloon to enter overseas markets
Burgess was Jaguar’s chief designer and design director, with cars such as the F-Type and F-Pace on his CV. He takes up the position of head of design and vice president for Geely Design UK and reports into fellow Brit Peter Horbury, Geely Group’s executive vice president of design.
“Geely Design has moved quickly to establish itself over the past five years, growing to become one of the strongest teams in the automotive design field,” said Burgess.
The UK base will join Geely design studios in Shanghai, Gothenburg, Barcelona and California providing support to the Geely brands’ in-house design teams, but it will provide more direct support for Coventry-based LEVC.
Chinese-based Geely bought Volvo from Ford in 2010, while it set up the London Taxi Company in 2013 from the remains of the old TX taxi business. It was transformed into the London Electric Vehicle Company in 2017, producing first London’s first all-electric black cab. In that same year Geely bought a majority stake in British sports car maker Lotus, while its own brand Lynk & Co is expected to be launched in Europe this year.
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