Geely to launch 13 models in 2022

Geely Auto Group said on Wednesday that it is planning to launch 13 models this year, most of which will be hybrids and electric vehicles.

These new vehicles will help Geely, China's largest private carmaker, to achieve its sales goal of 1.65 million units this year, up 24 percent from 2021.

The Hangzhou, Zhejiang province-based carmaker reported a 2021 profit of 4.85 billion yuan ($761.64 million), a 12 percent drop year-on-year. Its revenue rose 10 percent to 101.6 billion yuan.

Geely said the rise in raw material prices, pandemic-related disruptions and global chip shortages affected its business performance and said they will continue to push pressure on its performance and profitability in 2022.

The carmaker's sales in February of 78,478 units represent a 46 percent fall from the previous month, mainly because of Bosch's low supply of electronic stability systems.

Geely Auto Group CEO Gan Jiayue said the company would step up efforts in in-house chip development, among other measures, to solve chip shortages.

The carmaker's high-end electric marque, Zeekr, is launch its second model, which is an SUV, this year, said An Conghui, chairman of Geely Auto Group.

An, also CEO of Zeekr, said he is confident that the one-year old brand can sell 70,000 vehicles this year.

A total of six Zeekr models are planned in three years, he said. "Zeekr's sales will reach 650,000 units by 2025 and we are confident that become a top three player in the world's high-end electric car market," said An.

Zeekr has partnered with Waymo to develop an electric vehicle model for the Alphabet subsidiary's robotaxi fleet in the United States.

The model is being designed and developed at Zeekr's research and development facility in Gothenburg, Sweden, which has been developing class-leading vehicles for the wider Geely Holding Group.

When they are delivered, Waymo will integrate its fully autonomous solutions into the vehicles.