Geely has become the latest Chinese manufacturer to unveil its ambitious plans for the UK after it debuted the new EX5 electric SUV.
While the Geely name is new to the UK, the brand isn’t. Geely owns Volvo, the London Electric Vehicle Company and Lotus. It’s relatively likely that you see a car with Geely’s influence on it every day.
As with other Chinese brands that have introduced themselves to the UK in recent months, the launch event pulled out all the stops. An impressive indoor water feature, a dazzling light show and a silent orchestral performance (available via headphones).
But the main star of the show was the EX5. The SUV comes equipped with everything you could possibly need: a decent range of up to 267 miles, fast-charging capabilities and all of the technology you could make use of. And more.
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The introductory speech referenced Geely as wanting mobility to be «for the many, not just the few». While this was unlikely to be a subtle nod to the Jeremy Corbyn-era Labour party, it shows that Geely is serious about its UK ambitions.
Moe Wang, vice president of Geely International, emphasised the importance of making the brand appeal to British drivers, with a focus on vehicles being «smarter, cleaner and more connected».
He confirmed that Geely would look to introduce 15 models over the next five years, supported by a continent-wide baseline of 1,000 dealers.
Aside from that, the EX5 is available to drivers with one of the most impressive bundles of incentives and offers compared to any other manufacturer.
The Gely EX5 has set a lofty bar for competitors
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GEELYAny new customers could make use of Geely’s own EV Grant, which could see them save up to £3,750, in addition to a £1,000 discount on an Andersen EV home charger. Alternatively, they could opt for £500 worth of credit from Octopus Electroverse.
Similarly, drivers will benefit from the Geely care scheme, which applies for eight years or 125,000 miles, in addition to roadside assistance with Green Flag.
It’s hard to argue against these incentives, especially as consumers look to ditch their old, polluting petrol and diesel models and opt for electric cars.
At the end of the day, some legacy manufacturers are not offering electric vehicles at the same price as Geely’s most expensive variant – the EX5 Max – which retails from £36,990.
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The Geely EX5 will start from £31,990 | GEELYDrivers have reported that they favour the move to electric vehicles in the coming years, regardless of whether it’s an established brand like Ford or BMW, or a relative newcomer, like Geely or Chery.
Michael Yang, Geely’s UK general manager, said the brand was «here to stay and make every journey intelligent, every day». He concluded, saying: «I think the Geely EX5 deserves a big round of applause.»
And he isn’t wrong, the car will likely strike a chord with drivers looking to switch to electric vehicles, especially when taking into account the seemingly endless financial benefits the EX5 has to offer.
Customer deliveries of the Geely EX5 are expected to begin before the end of the year | GEELYChinese manufacturers are here to stay, regardless of what people say.
Chery posters can be seen on roads and Tube stations, Jaecoo and Omoda models are flying off dealership forecourts, and BYD has quickly emerged as a leading contender for so-called new energy vehicles.
Drivers are no longer held to a strict allowance of established Western brands; the automotive market is thriving and offers more choice than ever before.
This can only be a good thing for motorists. Better choice, and manufacturers are forced to work for their sale, through affordable prices, the latest and greatest technology and genuinely impressive features.
