The Chinese built Geely FC saloon could soon be available in Europe with a home produced 2.0 litre diesel engine.

Geely, China's largest independent car manufacturer, isn't ready to sell cars in Europe or the US yet, but it took a major presence at the recent Detroit Motor Show in order to show that its technology is innovative and original.

The company showed a number of China-market sedans, hatchbacks and coupes, as well as a version of the LTI TX4 London taxi, which Geely builds under license in China. But while most of these cars are unlikely to be sold in Europe or the US, only the FC small saloon, 100% developed in-house, has a chance of being adapted for exports to developed markets, according to the company.

Geely instead was focusing on its capabilities at Detroit. The company displayed its electronic tyre blow-out safety system the company has developed called BBMS. This was to dispel the view that Chinese brands are not doing innovative work.

Geely is building new assembly plants in China to give it a total capacity of 1.7 million units by 2015 though no less than nine factories. The company aims to pursue "a very aggressive overseas manufacturing plan", including up to six assembly plants around the world including one in Europe, and one in Mexico, which is already under construction.

Geely aims to launch 15 new models in the next three-to-five years, as well as engines including self-developed, Euro V-compliant 2-litre diesels.

Geely believes that in the past five years, Chinese brands have achieved what it took Japanese and Korean brands 20 years to do. The key has been to switch from 'made in China' to 'developed in China.

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