Chinese automaker Geely Automobile plans to build a small SUV late next year that will go on sale in China in early 2017, several European markets a year or so later, and eventually the United States, said two senior executives, one of whom recently left the Chinese group.For export to Europe, the SUV will initially be a plug-in hybrid version. In China, Geely plans to sell a gasoline-engine version starting in early 2017, followed by a couple of alternative fuel variants, including plug-ins.
In targeting Europe with an alternative-fuel model, Geely wants to be seen as a maker of affordable high-tech cars rather than just another cheap, no-frills Chinese brand, the executives said, adding Geely plans a limited number of flagship showrooms in Europe.
"It's an effort to burnish our brand before we bring out more mainstream gasoline-fueled cars to Europe and eventually to the U.S.," one of the executives said.
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