Feb 26 (Reuters) - Geely-owned Lynk & Co will launch a

plug-in hybrid SUV in June with the longest electric range in

Europe, the Swedish premium car brand said on Wednesday, adding

to growing competition in the continent's hybrid and electric

car market.

The model 08, unveiled in China in 2023, has an

electric-only range of 200 km (124.3 miles), the longest in

Europe for a mid-sized SUV and almost double that of some

competitors, and a total range of over 1,100 km, according to

the company.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Inadequate charging infrastructure for electric cars in some

parts of Europe has contributed to slower than expected EV

adoption and turned customers towards hybrid electrics (HEV) and

plug-in hybrids (PHEV).

The 08 is the latest PHEV to enter the European market, four

months after the EU approved increased tariffs on Chinese-built

EVs, including Geely ones, of up to 45.3%.

Zeekr Group bought out Volvo's share in

Lynk & Co in February, as part of a brand reshuffle within their

parent Geely.

BY THE NUMBERS

The 08 charges from 10% to 80% in 33 minutes. Its starting

price in Europe will be 52,995 euros ($55,491), Lynk & Co said

in a statement.

The 08 will be the third of the brand's models to enter the

European market, following the hybrid 01 and the full-electric

02 crossovers, the company said.

QUOTES

"We still believe very much in plug-in hybrids", Lynk & Co

Chief Executive Nicolas Lopez Appelgren told Reuters.

"This car day-to-day, many days is an electric car thanks to

its range", Chief Technology Officer David Green said.

"With Europe on a transition as a whole continent to

electric ... this is a transition product", he said.

"We actually want to show off tech and have the customer

feel that they are proud that they got a car that has a lot of

cool tech", the brand's president of design Stefan Rosen said.

($1 = 0.9550 euros)