BEIJING - Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, China's No 10 automaker, sealed a binding deal on Sunday to buy ailing Swedish luxury car brand Volvo from US giant Ford for $1.8 billion.

"Today represents a milestone in the history of Geely," Geely Chairman Li Shufu told a news conference, adding that Volvo will remain a separate company with its own management team based in Sweden.

The agreement was signed between the two automakers in Goteborg, Sweden.