In an interview with Chapter  in 2022, Alain Visser, then CEO of the Volvo sister company, described the Lynk & Co brand as the »wild horse« in the stable of the Chinese umbrella brand Geely. Visser was referring in particular to the revolutionary subscription model that he and his team had come up with for the brand. Emotion plus experience plus fun minus ownership was the formula with which Lynk & Co tried to score points in Europe. Since then, the wild horse in the Geely stable has covered several kilometers at a stretched gallop. The initial rebellion was first followed by the plug-in hybrid Lynk & Co 01, now a revised version of the SUV and, with the 02, a fully electric SUV coupé. But there have also been other changes at the Chinese manufacturer: Alain Visser turned his attention to new tasks at the beginning of the year and was replaced by Nicolas López Appelgren as the new CEO for Europe.

The 02 is set to herald a new chapter in the strategic expansion and further development of Lynk & Co—that was just he five-door model with an electric range of 445 kilometers is the first fully electric vehicle that the Chinese manufacturer is sending to Europe. In China, the vehicle is marketed under the name Z20. »The all-new 02 represents the next phase for Lynk & Co,« says CEO Nicolas López Appelgren. »We are expanding our business model, growing our product portfolio and entering new markets. These strategic moves underline Lynk & Co’s commitment to offering our customers more choice, flexibility and access.«

Revolutionary emergence

According to the manufacturer’s website, the Lynk & Co 02  is not included in the aforementioned subscription system, but the creation of its design can be described as revolutionary. The 02  was created in Lynk & Co’s global design studio in Gothenburg and brought to life through an industry-first collaboration between the customers of the 01 plug-in hybrid SUV and the internal design and engineering teams. This means that customers had a significant influence on the character and design language of the new vehicle. Lynk & Co received around 6,000 messages.

The result is a vehicle that impresses with its clear lines and at the same time looks modern and dynamic. At first glance, the eye is immediately drawn to the large rear spoiler, into which the rear lights are integrated. The striking front lights and the raised side line are also striking. The interior makes a timeless and uncluttered impression—the focus is clearly on sustainability and comfort. The 02 is also impressively spacious—and there is plenty of room in the rear too. 14 speakers from Harman Kardon, Infinity lighting, panoramic roof, doors with frameless windows and 5G connectivity round off the interior experience.

One interesting function on board is an interface for car sharing. The manufacturer writes: »Cars stand still 96 percent of the time. We can change this by sharing. How practical that a car sharing band is built into the 02. When you pull it (or simply go into the app), the integrated sharing function is activated. Friends, family members and even strangers can then borrow your car. Not a big deal, but it makes a big difference—and is good for your wallet.«

Perhaps the »wild horse« in the Geely stable is no longer so wild after all the kilometers it has already covered, but has now become a little more considered and confident. Calm and revolution are not necessarily mutually exclusive. [SW]