Lynk & Co: Driven by Customer Feedback
Another Chinese brand for Switzerland? Not quite! In 2026, Lynk & Co—a Swedish-Chinese joint venture—launched here. The perks: cool, Scandinavian design and plenty of features for the money.
The Lynk & Co car brand is part of the Geely Group, which produced more than four million cars last year. What began in 1986 with the manufacture of refrigerator parts has long since grown into one of China’s leading automotive groups, whose brands are increasingly making inroads into Europe and Switzerland. The Geely Group’s diverse portfolio of brands includes Radar, London EV Company, Lotus, Smart, Zeekr, and Geely itself (the latter two are imported into Switzerland by Emil Frey), as well as Volvo and, of course, Lynk & Co.
From Subscription Use to Sales
The latter launched in Europe back in 2021 with a 4.54-meter-long Lynk & Co 01, which, however, could not be purchased but was available only through a subscription. An exciting approach from the somewhat unconventional team from Gothenburg. «We’ve adapted our business model from a purely subscription-based model and now have 155 dealers in Europe—soon to be 180,» explains Keith Schäfer, Chief Sales Officer. «We’re present in seven markets, have 70,000 cars on the roads across Europe, and sold around 10,000 models last year. Now we’re also up and running in Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic.’
The Perfect Solution for Retailers
In Switzerland, the company now aims to establish the brand in a competitive market and is relying on the Volvo dealer network, from which it already benefits in terms of service and repair expertise. «With the compact all-electric 02 and the two SUVs, the 01 and 08, we have the right products for the Swiss market,» explains Fiona Tschan, Head of Sales at Lynk & Co Switzerland. «With a new brand, trust among end customers is extremely important, and our partnership with Volvo and its dealer network helps us in this regard.» With the current nine Lynk & Co locations, the company has not yet covered all of Switzerland, and it certainly needs to continue growing in terms of brand awareness, she adds. To that end, the company plans to use events like Auto Zürich in November to raise its profile among the Swiss public. «We’re a very colorful, innovative mobility brand and a great complement to Volvo’s partners,» says Fiona Tschan.
More Than Just Vertical Lights
The Lynk & Co brand originated from the so-called CMA platform, which is now used in a wide variety of models from the Geely Group. But because an innovative vehicle architecture designed for a wide variety of powertrains doesn’t sell well to end customers, designer Stefan Rosén stepped in and created Lynk & Co’s unique brand identity. «I came from Volvo, but I wanted to create the exact opposite of a Volvo, so that our models could be sold without any problems at the same dealerships. To achieve this, for example, I incorporated the two vertical LED lights into the front hood.» These, of course, also feature on the 08, available starting at 55,995 Swiss francs, which, as a plug-in hybrid, sets new standards with an electric range of up to 200 km and a total range of over 1,000 km. Or the slightly smaller 01, available starting at 43,995 Swiss francs, with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, 206 kW/276 PS, and an electric range of 75 km.
Fun Features and Details
The 4.45-meter-long all-electric Lynk & Co 02 is really cool and features some fun design details. Stefan Rosén opens the front hood and playfully points out the «Nope, no engine here» lettering in the 15-liter frunk. The 200 kW/272 PS electric motor is mounted on the rear axle. «Just for fun, we added the message »I’ve got the power« under the tailgate,» he adds. ’With our models, we also always combine the requirements from China—plenty of rear-seat space, since people there often aren’t the ones driving—with the dynamism and sportiness that Europeans appreciate.” No wonder, then, that the 02 (starting at a reasonable 35,995 Swiss francs) offers plenty of space even in the rear seats beneath the large panoramic roof.
Plus, thanks to the 66-kWh battery, it offers an electric range of up to 445 kilometers and cool features like «Hey Honk,» which lets you make your Lynk & Co neigh, clap, or say «Excuse me» and «Thank you.» And through the «Co:lab» feature, users can even provide direct feedback to the developers. David Green, Chief Product and Strategy Officer: «This is how we get ideas and direct, unfiltered feedback from end customers. At Lynk & Co, we’ve therefore never done a facelift—we’ve simply implemented the feedback and improved the models that way.» This unconventional approach, combined with solid technology, successful design, and fair prices, definitely has potential. Even if they’re starting with just three models for now, more—much more—is coming soon! As early as the summer of 2027, for example, the dynamic 07 Shooting Brake with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
