Four months after its announcement, Geely’s premium sub-brand, Lynk & Co made its Southeast Asian debut in Vietnam with the official unveiling of its flagship store in Hanoi along with the unveiling of 3 models – the Lynk & Co 01, 05, and 09.

So far, only prices for the flagship Lynk & Co 09 SUV have been announced at launch with prices for the other two models to be revealed at a later date.

Priced at VND 2.199 billion (~RM 420k), the Lynk & Co 09 shares similar dimensions as the Mercedes-Benz GLE but at half the price. In Vietnam, the sole GLE 450 is priced at VND 4.509 billion (~RM 861k).

Despite being a Chinese sub-brand, the flagship SUV is basically a Volvo XC90 underneath as it shares the same Scalable Product Architecture (SPA). The sole Vietnamese-spec 09 is powered by a mild-hybrid powertrain combining a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol unit with a 48-volt generator to produce 254 PS and 350 Nm.

Also read: Lynk & Co 09 debuts, cheaper Volvo XC90 twin but more luxurious, est. from RM 160k in China?

The powerplant is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all 4 wheels (AWD). It also boasts 23 ADAS features including AEB, lane change assist, and corner brake assist among others.

As for the other two models, the Lynk & Co 01 serves as the entry model for the brand and competes against the Mazda CX-5 which is Vietnam’s best-selling car 4 months in a row since August 2023. According to Lynk & Co’s Vietnamese site, the 01 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol unit (218 PS/325 Nm) and is paired with an 8-speed automatic that drives the front wheels (FWD).

Also read: Selling twice more than Vios, Mazda CX-5 is Vietnam's best-selling car in Sept 2023

The Lynk & Co 05 is a sleeker coupe-like version of the 01 and is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-4 with a higher output (254 PS/349 Nm). Power is also sent to the front wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission.

While the website lists 3 models, there is one more Lynk & Co model that was shown at the Hanoi showroom’s opening. The Lynk & Co 03 was previously mentioned as one of the models to be launched in Vietnam but during the brand’s official launch, the sedan was never announced. Perhaps, it could be introduced in the country eventually.

Also read: All-new Lynk & Co 03 sedan makes world debut; New 2.0-litre engine, 269 PS, 350 Nm

Since Lynk & Co is only present in left-hand drive (LHD) markets such as Continental Europe and China, it might seem likely that the next major ASEAN nation it could enter after Vietnam is the Philippines. Auto Industriya reported that the brand could debut in the archipelago at the 2024 Manila International Auto Show in April.

But don’t fret just yet as Lynk & Co has plans to be introduced in right-hand drive (RHD) markets like Australia and Malaysia by 2025. Perhaps Tanjung Malim could even serve as a production hub for RHD markets.

Also read: Geely to enter Malaysia directly via Lynk & Co, transfers Proton shares to affiliate company