Geely Automobile (simplified Chinese: 吉利汽车; traditional Chinese: 吉利汽車; pinyin: Jílì Qìchē) (SEHK: 0175) is a Chineseautomaker and is the first independent and largest private automobile manufacturer in the People's Republic of China. The parent company is Geely Holding Group (simplified Chinese: 吉利控股集团; traditional Chinese: 吉利控股集團; pinyin: Jílì Kònggǔ Jítuán), which began manufacturing in 1986 in Taizhou in Zhejiang province. In 2009, Geely announced that it was close to an agreement to acquire Volvo Cars from Ford Motor Company.Geely signed a deal with Ford to acquire Volvo Cars for $1.8 billion on March 28, 2010 and is expected to close the deal by the third quarter of 2010.