The Chinese are coming!

THE Chinese are coming, but don’t worry, the only thing they are aiming to conquer is the new car market!
Carmaker Geely will be marketing its vehicles in the UK at the end of 2012.
Manganese Bronze Holdings plc (MBH) will be the UK distributor for cars and parts and have also agreed with Geely International Corporation to establish a dealership network and provide after-sales service. The set-up will be called Geely Auto UK.
The two companies already work together making the econic black London taxis with UK models being built in Coventry by a subsidiary of MBH, The London Taxi Company.
John Russell, the CEO of MBH said: “We are all aware of the success that the Korean brands, Kia and Hyundai have had in the UK and we can work with Geely to achieve similar success in the future.”
Market Development Director of Geely Auto UK, Matthew Cheyne, added: “We are starting with a clean sheet of paper with the distribution of Geely passenger cars into the UK, the first major Western European country to receive them. 
“We will start by importing the Geely Emgrand EC7, C/D segment sized four door saloons and five door hatchbacks, initially with 1.5 and 1.8 litre petrol engine options.  But Geely has a comprehensive range of models well suited to European requirements.  We will be aiming to widen our range just as quickly as possible, probably at least a new model range every year for the next four to five years.”
Geely cars meet EU homologation and whole vehicle type approval and Euro 5 emissions.
Cheyne added: “They are all well equipped products but at affordable prices and will carry a five-year, 100,000 mile warranty.
“The first Emgrand EC7 models to arrive are likely to have a range starting price of approximately £10,000 and we see Geely cars being attractive purchases for retail and business user-chooser customers.  At this stage we are not volume driven but we will increase our sales significantly as customers get to know our products and more models are added to the range.  Our priority at launch is to have a representative network who wants to work with us to deliver real customer satisfaction.”
The firm is establishing a Geely Auto UK website, www.geelyauto.co.uk, which will soon go live. Expressions of interest can be made by potential customers, dealers and suppliers of services to enquiries@geelyauto.co.uk, dealerinfo@geelyauto.co.uk and consumerinfo@geelyauto.co.uk