Lynk & Co asks the questions we don’t even think about
How does thinking differently affect how we look, feel and think about something we are so used to?And where does it all start? Or is it all just talk?
The main thing we felt when spending a few days with Lynk & Co, in and around China, was energy. We had heard of the brand before, largely because they had started to go racing in Europe. And we had never heard of them. Usually, when car companies go racing it is to sell the cars they produce already more widely. In this case, they almost went racing before they were selling the car, or at least selling it widely.
And they were doing pretty well, if you consider three championships in the FIA-sanctioned WTCR series “doing pretty well.” The company is partly owned by Volvo (China) and by Geely Holdings, so it had both the racing experience and the support to do so.
When we first heard of Lynk & Co, they had begun racing. Next we hear of their series of championships, then we hear of their expansion into new markets such as the Philippines. Which is why we were first in Hangzhou China and then in Beijing. Hangzhou is almost a breeding ground for entrepreneurial energy in China, and the mother company Geely is based there. We had already felt the energy and the actual difference in attitude from a previous (Geely-based) visit by talking to the internationally-diverse teams of engineers and designers. How different was Lynk & Co going to be?
It is kind of the same level of independent thought pushed up a level or two. At least. There was energy and excitement in the young crowd as we walked through their design and engineering workspaces. And doing so around lunchtime has us surrounded by everyone excitedly going to the cafeteria, which was a combination of efficiency and tastes and smells and culture. Duck hanging ready to be presented but in your college caf. We weren’t brought through any special process other than a seating area which unfortunately didn’t allow easy access to the wonderfully aromatic duck. We went away feeling, what a wonderful place this must be to work. More modern tech company that maker.
We also went to what was called the Club, which was just outside the very well-known tourist destination that is the West Lake. Wasn’t sure what it was at first because the outside had a huge coffee cup overflowing with flowers. There were a few cars inside, but the multi-story building was more cafe and very cool workspace than anything else. I am not even really sure if you can buy a car there, but you can get very good coffee, and some nice merchandise. This is part of their attempt to, as they say, think outside the car (box). It is in an urban environment, but it has an amazing view of the lake across the street and the trees that surround it.
Lynk & Co sees their customer base as urbanite, and that is the unifying factor for all the different areas in which they present themselves or will sell their cars. The “club” idea was where we were, with their other facilities being called either spaces or centers. Spaces would be more what you may call an art space, something a bit more changing and with more and different types of draws whereas the clubs may be more familiar and consistent. The centers will probably be more consistent with “normal” automotive facilities that offer sales and service and the usual. Though it is pretty clear “usual” isn’t what they are going for.
The cars themselves have a somewhat sleek and edgy look and feel to them. They go by number. The 03, which was the base for their racing wins, is a sedan that feels light and tight to put out on the track while trying to keep up (not) with their championship-winning racecar drivers. The 05 is a mid-size crossover with all-wheel drive and a surprising amount of space. The 09 is a big and very comfortable SUV. The company has tried from day one to be a few steps above and away from the usual, and the design and interior and exterior treatments reflect this. Little things like how they design and attach the side mirrors depart from the norm but turn out to be quite well thought-out. 04, by the way, isn’t a car. It was an electric scooter, now it is a very nice bicycle. Oh, and they have a really nice portable electric burr-grinder for the coffee nuts out there. So, no not exactly the usual car company thinking around.
Not many car companies begin a discussion with “does the world really need another car company” so publicly. Then again, not many would launch a brand that combines the strengths of Sweden, China, and just plain daring in Berlin, right in front of Mercedes Benz. Or launch their first car in Amsterdam (well, Volvo). Or get the very tedious and challenging and different authorizations to sell cars in Europe, as well as China at the same time.
So, their answer to “does the world need a new car company,” they said was no. But, they said, it may well need something like Lynk & Co.
