(Yicai Global) June 8 -- Privately-owned Chinese carmaker Zhejiang Geely Holding will partner international energy giant Royal Dutch Shell in the development of digital technology and transformation of new energy resources.

Shell will provide charging services for future electric cars produced by Hangzhou-based Geely in the future through the partnership, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

The two firms have maintained a nearly 12-year partnership in the lubricants sector but will extend the scope of cooperation to a wider range of areas including motorsports, corporate social responsibility, digital technology, and the transformation of new energy sources.

Geely will set up a design center in the UK this year, attracted by the country's profound auto industry expertise and auto professionals, President An Conghui said at a Shell event in Goodwood, UK, adding that the firm also aims to build another research and development center in Europe. The carmaker operates multiple overseas R&D and design facilities globally covering Coventry (UK), Gothenburg (Sweden), Barcelona (Spain) and California (US).

Geely bought a 51 percent stake in Lotus Group, the historic UK luxury sports car firm, in July last year. According to official sources from Geely, the new design center in the UK will focus on developing lightweight design solutions to provide strong support for Lotus racing cars.

Editor: William Clegg