New brand's answer to BYD's runaway success: Geely debuts new plug-in hybrid tech that trumps the BYD Sealion 6 and Shark 6 set-up

Chinese brands are battling it out for plug-in hybrid supremacy.

Plug-in hybrid car sales are booming in Australia, up more than 100 per cent compared to the same period in 2023.

BYD has just launched the Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid mid-size SUV in Australia and it has been a red-hot success the first few months on sale, averaging about 1000 units a month.

BYD’s 'DMi' (Dual Mode Intelligence) plug-in hybrid set-up is now in its fifth generation and pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and a sizeable battery.

The Chinese brand claims it can be driven more than 2000km before needing to be refuelled in several of its vehicles including the Seal 07 and Seal 06, which aren’t currently sold in Australia.

The DMi tech is found in the Sealion 06 and the same system will power the coming Shark 6 dual cab ute when it lands on our roads towards the end of the year.

Now Geely is circling.

Geely, which also owns Polestar, Volvo and Zeekr (all on sale in Australia), recently announced it will land in Australia in the coming months.

The Chinese conglomerate has revealed its next-generation plug-in hybrid set-up, dubbed Thor, according to CarNewsChina.

The new Thor tech goes toe-to-toe with BYD’s DMi 5 set-up, with an eerily similar 1.5-litre petrol engine, electric motor and chunky-sized battery combo.

Geely said the set-up is good for more than 2000km on a single tank of fuel.

Geely’s petrol motor is more powerful than the one found in BYD’s offerings, which suggests the total outputs might outgun BYD’s.

It is believed the new plug-in hybrid tech will debut in the Geely Galaxy Starship 7 SUV.

There is no word on whether Australia will get that vehicle.

Geely has confirmed it will launch in Australia next year with the EX5 mid-size electric SUV.

No Australian details for that vehicle have been confirmed yet, but in China it uses either a 49.52kWh or 60.22kWh battery delivering a driving range of up to 440km or 530km, respectively, on the more lenient CLTC cycle.

It can charge from 30 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes via a DC fast charger and has plenty of hi-tech features inside, too.