Geely launches the EX5 in select European markets
Geely Auto has unveiled another fully electric SUV to complement its model range in the compact class. The model series, which goes by the abbreviation EX5, was already presented for the Chinese market in May 2024 (there as the Galaxy E5), and now the manufacturer is also bringing the model to Europe.
The Geely EX5 has already launched on the market in Greece, following an event in Athens, and will initially be available in six markets in the Adriatic region: Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Montenegro. There, the launch officially took place on the 10th of June.
The United Kingdom is the next planned target market that the Chinese group’s main brand wants to tap into with the EX5. According to Geely, the model is primarily aimed at fleet customers, and the first EX5s are due to roll out to British customers in the fourth quarter of this year. Geely is currently still evaluating whether the car needs to be customised to the requirements and preferences of customers there. According to Autocar, Geely is drawing on the engineers of its premium brand Lotus.
Positioned between the compact and mid-size classes
The market launch in the UK is a further indication that the car will soon be visible on more European roads, as the EX5 is much more than just another electric vehicle by the Chinese manufacturer: the compact SUV is the first global Geely model to receive EU-wide certification. This approval is a milestone on the manufacturer’s international expansion course. As this important hurdle has already been overcome, we assume that the countries on the Adriatic and the British Isles, which are no longer part of the EU, are just the beginning for the EX5 and that the electric SUV will also be launched on other European markets sooner or later.
Let’s take a look at the technology of Geely’s new electric SUV: the 4.62-metre-long EX5 offers a range of 430 kilometres according to WLTP. Under the bonnet is an electric motor that delivers 160 kW and 320 Newton metres of torque to the front wheels. The electric SUV accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in 6.9 seconds, with a top speed of 175 kph according to Geely.
International customers can choose between 49.5 and 60 kilowatt-hours of lithium-iron-phosphate batteries for the built-in power storage unit. The range specification applies to the EX5 version with the larger of the two batteries. DC fast charging is supported with a maximum of 100 kW, which does not exactly qualify it as an ideal long-distance car. Nevertheless, there is probably a fairly flat charging curve: the manufacturer specifies a duration of 28 minutes for the charging process from 10 to 80 per cent. An 11 kW onboard charger is installed for AC charging.
The equipment features include a panoramic roof with a total of eleven adjustment options as well as UV protection, a 15.4-inch touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital display for the driver. In view of the favourable prices, the EX5 seems to offer a lot of car for the money. In China, the model costs less than 15,000 euros in a slimmed-down basic version, while in Australia it costs 40,990 dollars, which is the equivalent of around 23,000 euros.
Geely appoints new head of Europe
Overall, it can be observed that the European market is playing an increasingly important role for the car giant from Hangzhou. Geely recently announced that its activities in Europe will no longer be managed by the company founder from China, as was previously the case, but instead by a newly appointed head of Europe on a decentralised basis. Geely Auto is increasingly focusing on regional adaptation and consistent electrification in its activities here. From a global perspective, the Group is on course for success: last year, the Chinese company sold almost 2.2 million cars worldwide, which corresponds to an increase of 34 per cent compared to 2023.
The core brand of the same name may be new in the West, but with its established subsidiaries Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Lynk & Co., as well as the newcomer Zeekr, which joined in 2024, the car manufacturer has already gained valuable experience in various European markets in recent years. Geely now also holds half of the shares in Smart, the new joint venture with Mercedes-Benz founded in 2020 under the same name.
The Chinese car manufacturer spared no expense or effort when presenting the Geely EX5 in Serbia and Croatia. Around 40 automotive journalists from four countries came together in Serbia as part of an exclusive press event. They were able to experience the new EX5 on site during test drives. The response was similarly strong at the Croatian market launch, which was also attended by over 40 specialised journalists from Croatia and Slovenia.
Since entering the Serbian market in March 2023, Geely has already successfully launched several models together with its regional sales partner SEEAG – including the two combustion engines Starray and Coolray and now the all-electric EX5, which is intended to impress above all with its good price-performance ratio and greater environmental friendliness.
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