The next Chinese car giant to break the UK market this year

Another Chinese car maker that you’ve probably never heard of is bringing its first car to the UK – and it’s an electric model.

Geely Auto Group, the seventh-largest automaker in China, will debut its brand under its own name on our shores with the arrival of its EX5 SUV towards the end of the year.

As Geely Group owns Volvo, Polestar and Lotus, it’s no stranger to the British market, but this is the first time it will have its own Geely passenger cars on sale – and marks a significant move in the Chinese powerhouse’s rapid global expansion plans.

The Zhejiang-based firm says that ‘the move begins Geely Auto’s commitment to delivering a diverse range of high-quality, accessible vehicles tailored for the UK’.

Geely is the latest in a line of Chinese brands that have recently started sales in the UK, including BYD, Omoda and Jaecoo and Xpeng.

But for people left confused by the sheer amount of new Chinese cars being launched and how to tell Geely apart from the rest, then here’s everything you need to know about Geely and the new EX5 SUV.

Geely will launch its EX5 family SUV EV in the UK later this year, marking the first time a Geely own brand car will be available to buy. Geely is on a huge expansion, and is the latest Chinese car maker to launch in the UK

From fridge parts to EVs…

Founded in Taizhou City, in the Zhejiang Province of China, Geely started as a refrigerator parts manufacturer. That was 1986. 

It was 1997 when Geely joined the automotive sector, wanting to produce affordable cars for those on tight budgets. And in doing so it became China’s first privately-owned auto manufacturer.

In 2002, Geely entered into China’s top 10 automakers, and by 2010 was in a position to acquire Volvo. Taking 100 per cent of the shares of Volvo Car Corporation from Ford, Geely started its Western expansion and quickly snapped up 51 per cent of Lotus in 2017, and 9.69 per cent of Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz owner) in 2018.

Thanks to these acquisitions Geely Auto was the first Chinese car brand to sell one million vehicles.

In 2024, Geely achieved record-breaking sales of almost 2.2 million vehicles – a 34 per cent year-on-year increase.

Sales outside China increased 21 per cent year-on-year, to almost 1.22 million units. And electrified sales grew over 52 per cent to almost 45 per cent of aggregate sales.

The EX5 has a range of 264 miles from the bigger battery, and can 30 to 80 per cent recharge in 20 minutes

It’s likely to cost between £25,000 and £30,000 here, undercutting the Skoda Elroq (£32k) and the Kia EV3 (around £33k)

What we know about EX5

The EX5 is an all-electric C-Segment SUV. In terms of dimensions, it’s similar in size to a Nissan Qashqai.

It will be sold with the choice of 49.5kWh or 60.2kWh battery.

Customers can expect a range of 264 miles from the larger of the two batteries, and 30 to 80 per cent recharge in 20 minutes.

It is said to accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 6.6 seconds and produces 215bhp from its single, front-mounted e-motor.

Targeting the more affordable end of the market, the EX5 is a rival for the Skoda Elroq and Kia EV3.

But it offers – as has become the broader tactic deployed by Chinese car brands – a lot of comfort and tech features for the price, including heated and ventilated massage seats, voice control and a 15.4-inch Tesla-style screen with 13.4-inch head-up display.

With 410 litres of boot space and five seats that fold completely flat, the EX5 is a practical and cheap family buy.

We don’t know pricing yet, but it costs the equivalent of £19,500 in Australia ($40,990) so it’s likely to cost between £25,000 and £30,000 here, undercutting the Skoda Elroq (£32k) and the Kia EV3 (around £33k).

Geely hasn’t confirmed UK specifications yet but has said EX5 will meet regulatory requirements for the UK and 88 other countries, and there are left-hand and right-hand drive versions already on roads across the global market.

And Lotus Engineering has been used to assess the chassis and dynamics for the EX5 to tune it for European roads and customer driving styles, so it should drive well.

Geely plans to roll out more models in 2026 and open 300 overseas sales and services outlets

Geely plans for the UK and the rest of the world

Sales will start anytime from October to the end of the year (Q4). After that expect a multitude of models to arrive from 2026.

Geely is focusing on ‘strengthening market share in over 80 countries’ which the Chinese maker will do by increasing exports; in 2024 Geely exports rose 53 per cent. Already Geely exceeded its annual export target of 380,000 units last year when it hit 414,552 units.

It also promises to ‘enhance its channel and aftersales coverage’ by opening 300 overseas sales and service outlets. 

By the end of the year, it’s expected to have…