Lynk&Co enters Europe with unique membership model for 01 SUV

Geely-owned Lynk&Co has detailed its imminent European market launch, unwrapping the European   version of its 01 SUV and detailing a unique business model that does away with the need for vehicle ownership.

The Chinese-Swedish brand will offer the 01 on a membership basis for €500 (?456) per month, with members offered the opportunity to cancel with just one month’s notice, and lower their costs by sharing their car with others.  

’Free members’ get access to the app and can use paid members’ cars on a single-use basis, with the company claiming the average car is in use just 4% of the time. Tax, insurance and registration costs for each car are included in the cost of membership.

The car will also be available to buy outright in Europe, as is already the case in China, but final prices have yet to be confirmed. They will likely command a significant premium over the roughly ?18,000 start price of the Chinese car.

In line with the company’s ambition to make the membership process “brutally simple”, the car is available in just two colours - blue and black - and is offered in just one trim level with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems equipped as standard.

Two electrified powertrain options, shared with its Volvo XC40 sibling, are available: The first, a hybrid, pairs a 138bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol motor with a 49bhp electric motor for a combined output of 194bhp and 159lb ft. It is capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in 9.0secs and on to a top speed of 118mph, with a WLTP-certified consumption rating of 43mpg and CO2 emissions of 150g/km.  

The second option, a plug-in hybrid, pairs an uprated 178bhp version of the petrol motor with a 74bhp electric motor for a combined output of 257bhp and 195lb ft. It achieves 257mpg   on the WLTP combined cycle, and a 17.6kWh lithium ion battery offers an electric-only range of up to 43 miles.  

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