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Why Geely chose Gothenburg

The expertise found in western Sweden's automotive cluster weighed heavily in Chinese automotive group Geely's decision to build its European innovation centre at Lindholmen Science Park in Gothenburg. This investment will see the construction of a new building with some 70 to 80 thousand square metres of floor space for more than 3,500 people.

In the presence of Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and Geely's Chairman Li Shufu, Geely Group and the City of Gothenburg have signed a declaration of intent on the establishment of Geely's innovation centre at Lindholmen Science Park.

In the presence of Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and Geely's Chairman Li Shufu, Geely Group and the City of Gothenburg have signed a declaration of intent on the establishment of Geely's innovation centre at Lindholmen Science Park.

Geely Group has also signed a declaration of intent together with Älvstranden Utveckling AB on the acquisition of a plot of land measuring 24,500 square metres. This is where one or more buildings will be erected for several different operations within Geely Group. All in all, floor space of 70 to 80 thousand square metres is planned, which is comparable to that of the future Karlatornet, which will be one of the tallest buildings in the Nordic region.

Geely also plans to enable other Chinese actors in the automotive sector to conduct research and development at the new innovation centre.

In a press release published by Geely Group, Chairman Li Shufu expresses appreciation for the support received from the Swedish government and the City of Gothenburg in their efforts to create the right conditions for the group's research and development.

"We are fully committed to our long term investment in Sweden, furthermore by leveraging the expertise and talent pool in Gothenburg. By working alongside the planned Electric Mobility Lab in Lindholmen, we aim to develop the Geely Innovation Centre into one of the most advanced innovation hubs in Europe," says Li Shufu, according to the press release.

Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Löfven says, according to the same press release, that Geely has developed and strengthened Volvo into a leading car brand and that this establishment, together with previous substantial investments, is contributing to both growth and employment opportunities in Sweden.

At the meeting at Geely's head office in Hangzhou, the City of Gothenburg was represented by Mayor Ann-Sofie Hermansson, Municipal Commissioner Maria Rydén and CEO of Business Region Göteborg Patrik Andersson.

"The establishment of Geely's innovation centre is confirmation of our expertise and innovation ability in developing sustainable transport for the future. Gothenburg is a world-class player in this arena," says Ann-Sofie Hermansson.

"The Gothenburg region's automotive cluster has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, with several new actors joining the fray. Geely's establishment is yet another large and important piece of the puzzle in this development and we are pleased to be able to offer favourable conditions for such a major initiative," comments Patrik Andersson.

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