Gleagle

Gleagle, also known by its Chinese name 全球鹰 and the pinyin form Quánqiú Yīng, was an entry-level automobile brand created and operated by the Chinese manufacturer Geely. It was introduced at the end of 2008 as part of Geely's attempt to organize its expanding vehicle portfolio into several distinct marques aimed at different market segments. Gleagle occupied the value-oriented end of that structure, while Geely introduced Englon and Emgrand in 2009 to cover other customer groups and product positions. The brand sold small cars, sedans, and sport utility vehicles in China. Its best-known model was the Gleagle Panda, a compact hatchback also marketed in other contexts as the Geely LC. The Panda was offered with small-displacement petrol engines and was positioned as an accessible urban car. A crossover-styled derivative, the Gleagle GX2, was also associated with the Panda line. Other products included the Gleagle CK, a rebadged version of the Geely CK sedan, the GC7 compact-to-midsize sedan, and the GX7 compact SUV. Gleagle was notable for experimenting with nontraditional distribution as well as conventional dealerships. Some Panda variants were offered through Taobao Mall, a major Chinese e-commerce platform. The online purchasing process was not entirely dealership-free: Geely could deliver the vehicle to the customer's address, but buyers still had to visit a traditional dealer for parts of the transaction and delivery process. This approach reflected broader interest in using Chinese e-commerce to market and sell automobiles, particularly accessible models. The brand reached a substantial sales volume during its short life. More than 28,000 vehicles were reported sold in 2009, followed by 199,198 in 2010. Reported sales were 177,730 in 2011 and 176,999 in 2012. The number of Chinese dealerships associated with the brand declined from 363 at the end of 2010 to 336 a year later and 324 the following year. These figures describe the brand's reported market presence but do not establish a continuing standalone business after the restructuring. In 2014, Geely announced that it would phase out Gleagle, Englon, and Emgrand and return to a simpler brand architecture centered on Geely. The consolidation was still being implemented in 2015 and was completed in 2016. Most Gleagle products consequently continued, where applicable, under the Geely name rather than as an independent Gleagle range. Gleagle is therefore best understood as a discontinued Geely sub-brand rather than a separate automaker.

Geely, headquartered in Hangzhou, created Gleagle at the end of 2008 as an entry-level automobile brand. The launch formed part of a broader brand-segmentation plan intended to give the growing Chinese manufacturer several distinct marques. Englon followed in June 2009 and Emgrand in July 2009. Gleagle was assigned the accessible end of the portfolio and sold relatively inexpensive passenger vehicles in China. The product range included the Gleagle Panda, a compact hatchback also known as the Geely LC, with 1.0-liter and 1.3-liter CVVT engine options. The Panda became the most recognizable product associated with the brand. Gleagle also offered the GX2, a Panda Cross-style vehicle with 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter engines; the CK sedan, a rebadged Geely CK available with 1.0-liter and 1.5-liter engines; the GC7 four-door sedan; and the GX7 compact SUV. Gleagle's distribution model included a notable e-commerce experiment. Some Panda models were listed for sale through Taobao Mall in China. Although customers could arrange delivery to their address, the purchase still required a visit to a traditional dealer. This made the program a hybrid online-and-dealer model rather than a completely direct internet sale. The brand's reported sales increased sharply after launch. More than 28,000 vehicles were sold in 2009, while reported volume reached 199,198 in 2010. Sales were reported at 177,730 in 2011 and 176,999 in 2012. Gleagle's dealer network in China consisted of 363 dealerships at the end of 2010, 336 one year later, and 324 the year after that. No later sales figures are identified in the cited reference. Geely later concluded that maintaining several parallel consumer brands created unnecessary complexity. In 2014, the company announced that Gleagle, Englon, and Emgrand would be phased out and that vehicles would again be sold under the Geely brand. The process was still under way in 2015 and was completed in 2016. Most products associated with Gleagle consequently continued under Geely branding. The brand is now defunct, and its historical significance lies chiefly in Geely's short-lived attempt to build a segmented multi-brand passenger-car portfolio in China.

• 2016

  Restructuring is completed

  [1]Gleagleen.wikipedia.org

  The transition away from the three sub-brands is completed, with most affected products sold under Geely branding.

• 2014

  Geely announces brand consolidation

  [1]Gleagleen.wikipedia.org

  Geely announces plans to phase out Gleagle, Englon, and Emgrand and restore the Geely name as the principal vehicle brand.

• 2012

  Reported sales remain near 177,000 vehicles

  [1]Gleagleen.wikipedia.org

  Gleagle's reported sales total 176,999 vehicles, following similar volume in 2011.

• 2010

  Sales and dealership network expand

  [1]Gleagleen.wikipedia.org

  Reported sales reach 199,198 vehicles, while the brand has 363 dealerships in China at year-end.

• 2009

  First reported full-year sales

  [1]Gleagleen.wikipedia.org

  Reported Gleagle sales exceed 28,000 vehicles during the brand's first recorded year.

• 2008

  Gleagle is introduced

  [1]Gleagleen.wikipedia.org

  Geely introduces Gleagle as an entry-level automobile brand in China.

Value-oriented and entry-level passenger vehicles for the Chinese market, with an emphasis on affordable urban cars and accessible family vehicles.

• Compact hatchback · 2008

  Gleagle Panda

  The Gleagle Panda was a small urban hatchback and the brand's most prominent model. It was offered with 1.0-liter and 1.3-liter CVVT petrol engines and was also known as the Geely LC. Selected Panda variants were marketed through Taobao Mall, although customers still had to complete part of the purchase process through a traditional dealer.

• Crossover · 2010

  Gleagle GX2

  The GX2, also referred to as the Panda Cross, was a crossover-styled derivative associated with the Panda range. It used 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter engines and extended the small-car platform toward a more rugged, lifestyle-oriented format.

• Sedan · 2011

  Gleagle CK

  The Gleagle CK was a rebadged version of the Geely CK sedan. It was listed with 1.0-liter and 1.5-liter engine options and represented the brand's use of existing Geely vehicles to build a broader entry-level model range.

• Four-door sedan · 2012

  Gleagle GC7

  The GC7 was a four-door sedan introduced to give Gleagle a larger conventional passenger car alongside its small hatchbacks. The cited reference identifies it with a 1.8-liter engine and places its introduction in 2012.

• Compact SUV · 2012

  Gleagle GX7

  The GX7 was Gleagle's compact SUV offering. It broadened the entry-level marque into the growing sport utility vehicle segment and was introduced during the brand's active product period before the wider Geely brand consolidation.

• 2016

  GX7 and other models recalled twice over Takata airbag defects

  In October 2016, Zhejiang Haoqing recalled some Geely Gleagle GX7, GX9 and GC7 vehicles because abnormal Takata collision sensors could cause airbags to deploy erroneously or fail to deploy when they should, involving more than 16,000 vehicles; in 2017 it again recalled GX7 because Takata front passenger airbag inflators could rupture and injure people. Free replacement.

  Source

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• 2014

  Consolidation of Geely's multi-brand portfolioStrategy

  Background

  Geely had established Gleagle, Englon, and Emgrand as separate marques between 2008 and 2009, but later chose to simplify its brand architecture.

  Action taken

  The company announced that the three sub-brands would be phased out and that vehicles would return to being sold primarily under the Geely name.

  Aftermath

  The restructuring continued through 2015 and was completed in 2016. Most Gleagle products were subsequently associated with Geely rather than maintained as a separate Gleagle range.

  Source

1. 1Gleagleen.wikipedia.org
2. 2GX7 and other models recalled twice over Takata airbag defectssamrdprc.org.cn
3. 3GX7 and other models recalled twice over Takata airbag defectsauto.cnr.cn