Geely confirms plans for Australian debut
Competition for Australian motorists will be electric in 2025, as another brand promises to join the battle for buyers.
Chinese auto giant Geely has confirmed plans to enter Australia with a new electric car.
Geely announced plans to sell the EX5 in Australia this week as part of a broader expansion of its brand.
Though Geely isn’t exactly a household name, it is one of the largest players in global motoring.
Geely is the parent company to established European brands Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Smart. Newer brands Zeekr and Lynk & Co are also part of the Geely Group, and both of those brands will launch in Australia soon.
The first car to wear the Geely badge in Australia could be the EX5, a compact SUV that could challenge the likes of Kia’s EV3 and the BYD Atto 3.
Shaping up as a two-wheel-drive electric machine with around 160kW of power and about 500km of range, the Geely EX3 promises to make a strong first impression.
A modern cabin includes multi-coloured ambient lighting and a premium stereo with speakers built into the headrests. A compact digital dashboard and large central touchscreen ramp up its appeal.
The EX5 could be joined by other new models presented by Geely at the Automechanika trade show in Frankfurt.
Geely’s E8 sedan shapes up as a stylish executive sedan with electric power.
And the compact Geely Xingyuan hatchback could challenge the likes of BYD’s Dolphin with compact dimensions and a rear-mounted electric motor with 410 kilometres of range.
Speaking at the Automechanika trade show in Frankfurt, Victor Yang, Senior Vice President of Geely Holding Group, said Geely had significant plans for expansion.
“As an inclusive, surprising and uplifting brand, Geely inspires individuals to ‘See the World in Full’,” he said.
“We are not just making cars, we’re creating a better way of living, elevating the mobility experience without compromise.
“Today is not only the global debut of the EX5 but also a testament to Geely’s commitment to expanding into markets worldwide, including Norway, Australia, Thailand, and Indonesia.”
Geely will join a broad range of new marques coming to Australia in coming months, including Zeekr, XPeng, LeapMotor and Skywell.
The new brands will put immense pressure on established EV brands such as Tesla, Ford, Renault and Peugeot, which have already had to slash prices in the face of intense competition.
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