Intro: China Geely Group is a private company which was set up by Li Shufu. First products were refrigerators, then motorcycle parts. By obtaining a minivan maker the company got the necessary permissions to produce motor vehicles. It was the first Chinese private enteprise which ventured into the car manufacturing business.
The first car was introduced in 1998. Using the Xiali TJ7300, the local version of the Daihatsu Charade as a donor and bolting a Mercedes-like grille the Merrie hatchback was created. A mere 200 cars were sold in the first year.
Slowly but steadily the company has expanded. In August, 2002 they acquired Shanghai-based Jmstar Group, owned by Li's younger brother Li Shutong
In November, 2002 the limousine version of the Haoqing was introduced and a Geely sportscar, called the Beauty Leopard was introduced in 2003. The latter gained world-wide fame with built-in karaoke equipment.
Geely produced 38888 cars in 2003, including 32667 Haoqing models. Their new subsidiary, Shanghai-Maple, based on the former JMStar works made 6297 Huapu models.
Today the company is a holding entity, Geely Automobile Holdings limited with its principal manufacturing base in Beilun Economic and Technological Development Zone, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, while the Haoqing is being built in Linhai, Taizhou. Geely is now listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange, exported some cars to Syria and now they are developing new models in collaboration with Daewoo International of Korea, Maggiora of Italy and Ruecker of Germany.
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