Chinese car manufacturer Geely Automobile and Detroit Electric have entered into a strategic partnership to jointly develop pure electric vehicles and related electric drive systems for the Chinese market.
The partners have chosen Geely’s best-selling Emgrand EC7 model as the base vehicle to develop a pure electric vehicle, after three years of feasibility studies and a joint development program.
As per the agreed terms, the first model of pure electric vehicles will be sold under Geely’s Emgrand brand starting in 2014.
The EC7-based EV, called the EC7-EV, will be co-branded with a ‘Detroit Electric – Technology’ badge, while its sales will commence in the first quarter of 2014.
Initially, EC7-EV will be sold primarily to business users and public-sector organizations. The new EC7-EV model can deliver class-leading acceleration and a top speed exceeding 200kph.
Detroit Electric chairman and group CEO Albert Lam said that the company will join forces with Geely for the production of EC7-EV.
"We have been working alongside Geely for some time to optimise the EV drive technologies for integration into the vehicles and this partnership will now fast-track both Geely and Detroit Electric to realising the great EV market potential in the Chinese market," added Lam.
A joint development and engineering team has been formed to work together in all areas of the EV powertrain solution, including electric motor, vehicle management system, advanced thermo-managed battery pack, battery management system and a twin-speed high-torque gearbox.
In addition, the partnership also extends to the formation of a joint venture company to manufacture the critical EV powertrain components and associated parts.