Li Shufu founded Geely in 1986 in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China, initially as a manufacturer of refrigerator components. The company subsequently expanded into motorcycle manufacturing and then into automobile manufacturing in the late 1990s.
Geely received approval from the Chinese government to manufacture automobiles in 1997, making it one of the first private Chinese companies to receive such approval. The company launched its first car in 1998, a basic sedan priced at the low end of the Chinese market. Geely's early vehicles were known for their low prices rather than quality or technology, targeting consumers in lower-tier Chinese cities.
Geely listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2005, providing capital for expansion and giving international investors access to the company. The listing was an important milestone in Geely's development as a credible automotive company.
In 2010, Geely completed the acquisition of Volvo Cars from Ford Motor Company for approximately 1.8 billion US dollars. The acquisition was widely viewed as a bold and risky move, as Geely was a relatively small Chinese automaker acquiring a globally recognized Swedish luxury brand. Li Shufu promised to maintain Volvo's Swedish identity, engineering culture, and manufacturing presence, and to use Geely's access to the Chinese market to grow Volvo's sales.
The Volvo acquisition proved transformative. Volvo's sales grew significantly under Geely's ownership, driven by strong demand in China and continued performance in Europe and North America. Volvo also became a technology partner for Geely's other brands, sharing platforms and powertrains that elevated the quality of Geely's Chinese-market vehicles.
In 2017, Geely and Volvo jointly launched Lynk & Co, a new automotive brand targeting younger, urban consumers with a connected car concept and a subscription-based ownership model. Lynk & Co vehicles are built on the same platform as Volvo models and are sold primarily in China and Europe.
In 2017, Geely acquired a 49.9% stake in Proton, the Malaysian national automaker, and a 51% stake in Lotus Cars, the British sports car manufacturer. The Proton acquisition gave Geely a foothold in Southeast Asia, while the Lotus acquisition provided access to a prestigious British sports car brand.
In 2021, Geely launched Zeekr, a premium electric vehicle brand targeting the Chinese market. Zeekr was subsequently listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2024, providing a separate public market valuation for the brand.
In 2022, Polestar, the electric vehicle brand jointly owned by Geely and Volvo Cars, listed on NASDAQ through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company. Polestar reported revenue growth of 56% in the first half of 2025.
In 2025, the group produced 4.1 million vehicles globally, including 2.3 million plug-in electric vehicles, demonstrating the scale of Geely's electrification investment.