Geely, the Chinese firm that owns LEVC, Lotus, Polestar and Volvo, is launching its eponymous car brand in the UK.
The first model bound for UK showrooms will be the Geely EX5, an electric crossover pitched against the Skoda Elroq, Kia EV3 and Renault Megane.
UK specifications have yet to be confirmed, but Geely said the EX5 has been assessed by Lotus Engineering to evaluate whether it requires retuning for European roads.
Globally, the crossover is offered with a choice of 49.5kWh or 60.2kWh battery packs, with the latter yielding a range of up to 264 miles on the WLTP test cycle. They can be charged at a rate of up to 100kW on a DC connection, giving the bigger battery a 30-80% refill in 20 minutes.
It has a single front-mounted motor that puts out 215bhp, giving a 0-62mph sprint time of 6.9sec.
Inside, it seats five and features a 15.4in infotainment touchscreen.
Prices have yet to be announced, but the EX5 starts from $40,990 (£19,500) in Australia, hinting at a price of between £25k and £30k in the UK.
Geely said that fleet buyers are expected to be a “key segment” for the model – indeed, they account for the majority of EV sales at present – and that it was confident that it will appeal to UK buyers.
Deliveries are earmarked to begin between October and the end of the year, and more Geely models are set to follow next year.
The move comes as Geely attempts to tap new markets for rapid growth, adding more than 300 non-Chinese dealers and service centres to its global portfolio by the end of 2025.
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Well if this can cost £19-5k in Australia why will it cost £25k to £30k here? seems like Geely have seen how easy it is rip UK customers off, if the EX5 was sold at the same price as it is in Oz it could be an attractive proposition
Just what the market is demanding - another B Class Chinese EV Crossover. It will be interesting to see whether Geely are going to set up another sales network or whether they will utilise Volvo and Polestar dealers now that they have moved away from on line sales. I would like to see the Zeekr X come to the UK but unless it is badged as Polestar or Geely it is difficult to see how it could be marketed as yet another Chinese brand.
All these Chinese brands have a big domestic market on which their foundations are built. European brands are about to come under a sustained assault from 'low' produced Chinese electric cars. Their best hope is that IVE cars have a bit longer whilst they sort out their battery supply issues