Lynk & Cos 02 is its first European EV: launch report

Unveiled with an ambitious “techno banquet” in a darkened warehouse in Milan’s Taliedo district, the new Lynk & Co 02 is the Sweden-based Chinese company’s first electric vehicle for Europe. The 02 (pronounced “Zero Two” and known as the Z20 in China, where there is already an 02 model, albeit a small ICE hatchback, launched in 2018) is a crossover coupe, a now well-known segment, which was shaped by customer demand for novelty.

This is the age of the influencer and these days we all experience the world through their gyro-stabilized lenses and fast-edited reels. As such, Lynk & Co’s backdrop was one of repeating ambient drones and laser light blocks poking through the smoky atmosphere, with waiters in chef suits and carefully presented food, all designed to be hashtagged and posted in real time, rather than over multiple days to be written away retrospectively.

The car itself begins the event, swathed in silk, encased in translucent screens flashing Sub-Holzer-esque slogans – “feel inspired,” “great at being a good car,” “dare to do it.” to be”. After the second course, the roving band sets up and some of the staff transform into a dance troupe to herald the big reveal. After opening the covers, what we’re presented with is a handsome, if somewhat generic, version of this increasingly popular genre, with four doors, a tall body, pronounced wheel arches and a sweeping roofline. The base of the 02 begins to move in the hall and presents itself like a medieval jester in front of the rows of tables.

(Image credit: Jonathan Bell)

The company’s CEO, Nicolas Lopez Appelgren, tells the assembled crowd: “It’s in our DNA to listen to our customers.” “We’re committed to making our cars available in the way that’s best for them, whether by subscription , in car sharing or in retail.” This idea of ​​subscribing to a car is at the core of Lynk & Co’s offering, an ethos the company has followed since its founding in 2016. From the start, the idea was to create a car that would appeal to the most car-cynical generation, especially millennials, attracted by the thought of passive income and lower running costs.

(Image credit: Lynk & Co)

Lynk & Co describes itself as “not just a car company”. [but] a mobility provider”. Subscription models for car ownership are just beginning to take off. Earlier this year, consulting firm Deloitte estimated “that by 2025, 8 percent of all new vehicle registrations…will be based on subscription models.” A market currently worth around $1 billion per year could triple in size within a decade .

Lynk & Co wants to be at the forefront of this shift in perception, where consumers prefer subscriptions and car sharing rather than long-term HP, traditional credit or cash ownership. One hope for the 02 is that it could enable local car sharing, something several apps and startups have focused on to break Uber and Zipcar’s stranglehold on personal mobility solutions.

(Image credit: Lynk & Co)

An automotive side hustle may not be right for everyone, but it’s certainly a disruptive idea that’s impacting everything from design to dealerships. The company is in the process of opening the latter in Europe, where it will work with sister companies Volvo and Polestar. Lynk & Co tell us that the greatest demand is in the socially conscious Netherlands, where 23 percent of subscribed cars are loaned out by their subscribers to others. Italy is close to 20 percent, while France is between 10 and 15 percent.

David Green, the company’s chief digital officer, says it’s “possible to make money from their business model.” “Rare, but definitely possible,” he adds, pointing out that most people would simply reduce their monthly fee rather than stay in the black. Building such networks takes time. “Only an individual can create a sharing community on Facebook or Instagram,” says Green, adding that it can grow from there. “We’ve even seen cars bought just to share with others.”

(Image credit: Lynk & Co)

The mechanism by which this self-initiated car sharing takes place is the app from Lynk & Co. Like the smartphone solutions from many manufacturers, it offers a digital key for the car. When sharing is enabled, owners share not just the key, but the digital lock on the car, which can then be opened by another person’s app. At the same time, the insurance details change automatically to accommodate the new driver.

It’s a smart thing and has definitely resonated with a generation happy with Lime bikes, Airbnb and a less burdensome sense of ownership in all things. Inside the 02, the focus is on durable, recycled, yet soft and easy-to-clean materials to create a hard-wearing work environment. There’s even a “tag” on the dashboard that you can drag to launch the car sharing app. This may be unnecessary, but it’s an indication of how much Lynk & Co wants this feature integrated into their models. The company calls the approach “groundbreaking,” but so far nothing significant has changed.

(Image credit: Lynk & Co)

Perhaps the growing and often confusing Geely car portfolio doesn’t help matters. In addition to Volvo, Polestar and Zeekr, the company also supports Lotus and LEVC, better known as the manufacturers of the London Taxi. Like any little sibling in a big, loud family, Lynk and Co. have to fight to make a name for themselves.

This battle has taken the form of design differentiation, with initial work led by the late Peter Horbury. In the task of creating an identity for each of the different brands while cleverly sharing platforms and other technologies, one sees familial similarities in the silhouette, if not the destial. It’s also tempting to view Lynk & Co as a hedged bet, given a potential slump in regular car sales.

(Image credit: Lynk & Co)

In China, the brand has no fewer than nine sophisticated models from 01 to 09, including the Z20, which will soon be joined by the flagship sedan Z10 EV (which shares a platform with the Polestar 4). There was no indication of how popular the subscription model was there (Europe is apparently the world leader for such things), but the fact that the UK is currently excluded from Lynk & Co’s (and Zeekr’s) sales plan did reflect the cost of the RHD conversion indicate that the parent company operates on low margins.

In reality, this confusion is less…confusing, and this particular cog in the Geely machine is quite distinctive. The 4.4m long 02 is more upright than its mechanical sibling, the Polestar 4, and fits well with the same ethos as the Ford Capri, Renault Rafale and Skoda Enyaq Coupé et al. It’s also much more stylish than the aging Lynk & Co 01 (although it recently underwent a major redesign), the only other model available to European customers. The company describes its design approach as “aerodramatic” and emphasizes that the right proportions are an essential part of the brand’s evolution.

(Image credit: Lynk & Co)

Molded in Europe at the company’s Gothenburg design center, the 02 scores with its simple finish, highlighted by the attractive launch color “Techno Magenta”. Stefan Rosen, president of Lynk & Co Design, described how the large 20-inch wheels sit in pronounced wheel arches, while the high bodywork provides excellent interior space without compromising the often conflicting requirements of very attentive customers (“the “Die The challenge was to make the car sexy and inclusive while also being a family car,” said one of the design team with a hint of exasperation.