Geely Auto Group has unified its European engineering operations under a single structure, with the goal of cutting the gap between Chinese and international market launches to under six months.
Geely Auto Group has officially launched Geely Technology Europe (Geely Tech Europe), a new research and development hub that consolidates its engineering centers in Göteborg, Sweden, and Frankfurt, Germany. The structure will coordinate platform and model development across three of the group’s brands — Zeekr, Lynk & Co, and Geely — marking a significant strategic shift in how the Chinese automotive giant approaches global markets.
From Göteborg to a Group-Wide Mandate
The roots of Geely’s European engineering presence go back to 2013, when the company founded China Euro Vehicle Technology (CEVT) in Göteborg. Over time, the center evolved into Zeekr Technology Europe to support the rollout of the premium electric brand Zeekr. Now, with the creation of Geely Tech Europe, the scope has been broadened to serve the entire group. The Frankfurt team has been folded into the same structure, and Italian engineer Giovanni Lanfranchi has been appointed to lead the organization.
A Six-Month Target
One of the central ambitions behind the new hub is closing the time gap between a model’s launch in China and its availability in international markets. Geely Tech Europe will work in parallel with the Geely Research Institute (GRI) in China, embedding European and international market requirements into the earliest stages of each new vehicle program — rather than adapting China-first products at a later stage. The target is to bring that gap to under six months, a meaningful improvement for brands looking to compete more effectively in Europe.
By 2027, the number of model projects managed from Europe is expected to double.
Three Core Areas of Focus
Geely Tech Europe will operate across three main disciplines:
- Architecture co-development — joint design with the GRI of next-generation mechanical platforms and electrical/electronic (E/E) architectures
- Product definition and market adaptation — translating European regulatory requirements and customer expectations into competitive product specifications
- AI-driven digital experiences — development of intelligent cockpits, ADAS systems, agentic AI for software-defined vehicles, and compliance with European data privacy and cybersecurity standards
A Track Record Already in Place
The European engineering teams are not starting from scratch. They have already contributed to two major platform families now in production: the CMA (Compact Modular Architecture), which underpins over four million vehicles sold worldwide, and the SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture), Geely’s electric vehicle platform family. Notably, the SEA-S variant — featuring a 900-volt high-voltage system — was co-developed in Europe.
Looking ahead, Geely Tech Europe plans to expand its ecosystem through targeted recruitment and partnerships with European universities, technology startups, and research institutions.
