Shanghai (ZXZC)- Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding) plans to launch a new energy heavy-duty truck concept this year under Farizon Auto, a brand of Geely Commercial Vehicles Group (GCV), Li Shufu, Geely Holding's chairman, said at an industrial conference on Sept. 23.

According to Li's speech, the yet-to-be-launched model will support several powertrain solutions such as full electric, REEV (range-extended electric vehicle), and methanol. It will be engineered to offer the user experience comparable to recreational vehicles by virtue of autonomous driving technologies and upscale cockpit, he added. 

In the future, the new energy commercial vehicles (CVs) deriving from the upcoming concept truck will function as smart carriers that can connect transport capacity platforms with the green energy supply network to complete an ecological closed loop.

“This concept heavy-duty truck will redefine the productive forces of land transportation and aids the management of product lifecycle integrating ‘human, vehicles, goods, (energy supply) stations, and electricity', helping achieve a zero-emission future for land transportation system,” said Li Shufu.

Farizon Auto's methanol fueled heavy-duty truck; photo credit: Geely Holding

Geely Holding carried out the R&D of new energy commercial vehicles (CVs) as far back as 2014. In 2016, the group founded GCV, under which Farizon Auto was announced in October of the same year. Focusing on the production and sales of clean new energy CVs, the brand was established to fully support Geely Holding in building up CV business.  

Moreover, the Zhejiang-headquartered group acquired shares in AB Volvo and Daimler to further perfect its global deployment involving both PVs and CVs.

Mr. Li said Geely Holding has built a new energy CV R&D center, the largest one in China, which has gathered nearly 2,000 engineers. It also developed two technical routes—a highway-dedicated CV system focusing on the M100 methanol clean energy and the EV charging & battery swapping technologies, and an urban CV system with all-electric and range-extended electric system as the core.