The chairman and founder of China's biggest privately owned car firm is the self-styled Henry Ford of China.

Geely, alongside car makers such as Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation is leading the rise of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) nations in the sector.

Ratan Tata’s Tata Motors has already snapped up jaguar Land Rover, while in Russia Oleg Deripaska’s Gaz is involved with Opel, but 2009 has seen China overtake the US as the biggest car market in the world and globally its companies are the most prominent in attempting to link up with Western manufacturers. Geely has a tie- up with Manganese Bronze, the London taxi maker, and is eyeing a move for Volvo.

Li Shu Fu’s ambitions for his Hong Kong – listed company were boosted in September when Goldman Sachs invested $334m, a vindication of the company’s potential.

Li is thought to be one of China’s richest businessmen and his ambition has often made him controversial in an industry dominated by state- businesses.

“Making cars is not as mysterious as people think,” he has said in the past. “A Car is merely four wheels, a steering wheel and an engine. The level of technology used in manufacturing cars is very high.