Li predicts that Geely and other Chinese automakers will gain a firm foothold 
in the international auto industry within the next 8 to 10 years. Yet Li is not 
solely interested in making big plans, saying Geely is committed to making cars 
with "Chinese characteristics". 
"Our cars must have Chinese cultural identities," Li says. 
"This point will make us more competitive and will help differentiate us from 
foreign carmakers around the world." 
 
 
   Li Shufu answers 
 foreign journalists' questions at the Frankfurt 
 International Motor Show as his company 
 Geely was the only one Chinese automaker present at 
 the show on September 13, 2005. 
 [sina.com]
  | 
Geely will continue to focus on 
independent development, rather than simply assembling foreign brands like 
China's top State-owned car manufacturers, such as SAIC, First Automotive Works 
Corp and Dongfeng Motor Corp. 
Geely will also invest billions of yuan over the next two years to bring its 
research and development centre up to international standards. 
"Independent development is a sword for us. Although it is not very sharp 
now, it is our own sword and we will be able to use it to cut ourselves a share 
in the international car market," he says. 
Geely, which entered the auto industry in 1998, currently makes economy cars. 
Its product lines include the Haoqing, Merrie, Freedom Cruiser, Ulion, Meirenbao 
and Maple, and retail for between 30,000 yuan (US$3,700) and 80,000 yuan 
(US$10,000). 
Li says Geely's products will move upmarket once it starts launching models 
equipped with 2.4, 2.5 and 3.0 litre engines. But he says the company will 
maintain its focus on the economy car segment over the short term. 
Geely now has a total production capacity of 300,000 cars a year in Zhejiang 
and Shanghai. It is also planning to build new factories in Central China's 
Hunan Province and Northwest China's Gansu Province with a combined capacity of 
200,000 units. 
China is the world's third biggest and fastest growing vehicle market. Total 
vehicle demand rose by 14 per cent year-on-year to 5.74 million units in 2005, 
including 3.12 million cars. 
All of the world's major automakers have built plants in China, and some are 
starting to export cars made on the mainland to foreign markets. Honda shipped 
11,000 compact cars made in South China's Guangdong Province to Europe last 
year. The Japanese automaker expects to increase its exports from China to 
25,000 cars in 2006.
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