Geely and Ford Forge New Partnership: Geely Leads R&D and Manufacturing, Ford Handles Design and Distribution

Geely and Ford have announced the resumption of their partnership. Under the agreement, four new all-electric vehicles that Ford plans to launch in Europe between 2027 and 2030 will be developed based on Geely’s self-developed GEA architecture. Geely will handle fundamental vehicle R&D and manufacturing, while Ford will retain control over exterior and interior design. The two companies have also reached an agreement for Geely to acquire core production lines from Ford’s Valencia plant in Spain. These lines will be transformed into a modernized production facility capable of manufacturing vehicles for both Geely and Ford brands. In this collaboration, Ford will primarily focus on branding and market channel deployment, while Geely will provide core technologies and manufacturing capabilities. This model enables Ford to revitalize underutilized assets and accelerate its electrification transition, while allowing Geely to save on overseas factory construction costs and timelines and avoid high EU tariffs on imported electric vehicles. The move marks a significant shift for Chinese automakers—from historically importing technology to now exporting core technologies abroad.