Geely Auto Group and the Linhai municipal government signed a strategic cooperation agreement on Nov 10, marking a significant milestone for both sides.

Linhai, a county-level city in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province — and Geely's birthplace — was where the company's first car rolled out on Aug 8, 1998.

In Geely's early years, challenges in funding, technology, and talent were overcome with strong local government support in Linhai and Taizhou. Today, Linhai remains central to Geely's ambitions in new energy and intelligent vehicle development. Under the new agreement, Geely plans to channel core resources into its founding city, supporting industrial goals and contributing to Taizhou's trillion-yuan automotive cluster.

Linhai's partnership with Geely has long been a cornerstone of its private economy. This latest collaboration marks a key step in Geely's strategic expansion and serves as a catalyst for the city's automotive machinery industry.

In recent years, Linhai has accelerated key projects like the Taizhou Bay New Energy Vehicle Industrial Park and promoted collaboration across the supply chain. The city now boasts 209 automotive machinery enterprises above designated size, with a total industrial output exceeding 40 billion yuan ($5.62 billion). Recognized as a provincial-level advanced manufacturing cluster, Linhai is rapidly emerging as a major hub for next-generation vehicle production.

Looking ahead, Linhai aims to strengthen innovation and manufacturing capabilities, focusing on electrification, smart technology, and full-chain development — from components to vehicles — to drive growth in the new energy vehicle industry.