Lynk & Co is considering European production: ‘Given the political climate…’

Although Lynk & Co emphatically presents itself as a European brand with a Swedish background, it cannot be denied that it is also quite Chinese. Not only is the parent company (Geely) Chinese, Lynk & Co also builds its cars there and there are models that are available in China and not in Europe. With a new and fully electric Lynk & Co, the brand is taking a more European path. That car will first appear in Europe at the end of next year and is also basically intended for our market. China won’t get it until later. Lynk & Co may also build that car here in Europe. A sister model of the Volvo EX30 from Ghent, perhaps?

In any case, CEO Alain Visser already hinted in an exclusive interview with AutoWeek that Lynk & Co is thinking about European production. The fact that the EU is focusing on car manufacturers that build cars in China certainly plays a role: “It is true, given the political climate surrounding cars produced in China, that local production is becoming an issue. So we are with that in progress, although there are no concrete plans yet. It is a theme that we now take very seriously.” The CEO emphasizes that the Lynk & Co 01 should actually have already rolled off the production line in Europe. The intention to produce locally here is certainly not new: “In 2018 we intended to build our car in Ghent. Suddenly that was canceled because the Volvo XC40 sold so well that there was not enough capacity in Ghent. Then a factory was opened in China.”

Visser clearly sees in the Western car industry that Chinese cars have an effect on people’s moods. According to him, there is a certain fear, which is well-founded: “Everyone is a bit afraid of ‘are we now being flooded by Chinese cars?’. Especially the European brands, rightly so.” Visser may possibly be referring to his own Lynk & Co with that last word, which comes out with a smile, despite its profile as a European brand.