Geely MK Reviews

Chinese players in Australia look to get even more aggressive as the country's automotive giants try to offset sales slumps in their own market with an aggressive export strategy to help shift excess metal.That's the latest analysis from automotive experts, who point to falling profits or soaring losses in China's saturated new-car market.To put the market there into perspective, there are now more than 130 brands, and there were more than 500 new models launched in the first six months of 2026 alone.“Such an aggressive rollout of new products was far beyond what the market was able to accommodate,” said Fu Bingfeng, secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, at an industry forum in July.New analysis from the US's Automotive News details the challenges facing some of the now-biggest car brands in the world. Many are booming in Australia, but it's a different story in their home market, where oversupply is crippling sales.According to the US site, July marked the seventh consecutive month of market decline in China, with sales down 24 per cent compared to the same period last year. The July result was even more stark, with month on month sales down 25 per cent.Several auto giants have released their six-month financial results, with Geely benefiting from a massive 158 per cent increase in exports to protect profits, which still dropped two per cent. BAIC, which partners with Hyundai on the Elexio, reported a net loss of 1.65 billion yuan (345m), while GAC is forecasting a potential full-year loss of 4.6 billion yuan ($958m).Changan, which will soon launch in Australia, and already has a footprint here through Deepal, says its first-half profit could slip by 68 per cent, while Great Wall Motor reports a similar, though slightly smaller, figure.Domestic pressure is fuelling an export boom, with a total 5.35 million vehicles shipped overseas from January to July, up more than 70 per cent on the same period last year.The export boom will likely increase competition and sharpen prices in Australia, which will be good news for consumers, and the opposite for legacy OEMs battling ever increasing Chinese headwinds.

Geely’s new hybrid family SUV is getting closer to Aussie buyers. Geely Monjaro is a plug-in hybrid mid-size family SUV that has just been confirmed for the United Kingdom.This means the car is now available in right-hand drive, smoothing its path for an Australian launch.The Monjaro is on the large end of the mid-size SUV scale at 4770mm long, making it a size up on the Toyota RAV4. It will still be a rival to the RAV4 when it gets here, as well as everything from the MG HS to the Kia Sportage . It is considered Geely’s flagship SUV, indicating it will sit at the top of the brand’s SUV line-up globally. The Monjaro is available with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and conventional hybrid power, but it is unclear what Geely will offer Down Under. The PHEV set-up is the same as the Starray EM-i that combines a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor to produce 160kW and 262Nm. Hybrid power also comes from a four-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor, making 111kW and 225Nm. The Monjaro is available with standard 2.0-litre petrol engines in some markets, but don’t expect them in Australia as they would incur fines under our emissions regulations. It is more likely Australian examples will boast the PHEV set-up as it provides greater performance.The Monjaro hasn't been officially confirmed for a launch in Australia, but it is widely expected to arrive in 2027. It will likely hit Aussie shores after its UK launch that is scheduled for some time next year. Pricing details remain a while away, but Geely has confirmed it will sit above the Starray EM-i PHEV that starts from $37,490 (before on-road costs).Expect more details from Geely Australia on the Monjaro’s future in the coming weeks.  

The Geely EX2 Inspire is the top-spec version of Geely’s entry into the small EV market, competing with the likes of the BYD Atto 1, GAC Aion UT and MG4.Starting from $30,990, before on-road costs, the Inspire is $4500 pricier than the base Complete but gains plenty of features. Standard on the EX2 regardless are: Auto LED headlights and tail-lightsPowered seat adjustment14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen 8.8-inch driver displayWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoUSB-A and USB-C portsFour-speaker sound systemDigital radioGeely connected servicesKeyless entry and startLED interior lightingFeatures added when you upgrade to the Inspire are: Coloured ambient interior lightingWireless phone chargingPower tailgateHeated front seats and steering wheelDecorative metallic trim Contrast black roofRain-sensing wipersIt’s 4135mm long, 1805mm wide and 1580mm tall, with a 2645mm wheelbase. There’s a segment-defying 450L of luggage space between the 375L boot and 75 under-bonnet storage or ‘frunk’.Upgraded from the Complete in terms of its drivetrain, the EX2 Inspire is powered by a 85kW/150Nm motor, mounted at the rear axle. Geely claims it is able accelerate from 0-100km/h in 11.5 seconds and it’s limited to 130km/h.A 47kW battery provides power, while the EX2 Inspire uses a claimed 15.5kWh/100km, which results in a driving range of 345km according to Geely. DC Charging is 80kW, while AC is just 6.2kW.Geely says it was designed with current ANCAP testing protocols in mind and expects a maximum five-star rating later this year, though this is yet to be determined. Regardless, the list of standard safety features in the 2026 EX2 includes:Seven airbagsOccupant sensor and reminderSurround-view camera Rear parking sensorsHigh-beam assistPedestrian alert (low speed)Traction and stability controlHill-descent controlAdaptive cruise controlFront- and rear-cross traffic alertFront and rear collision warningBlind-spot monitoring Driver monitoringEmergency lane-keepLane-change assistTraffic sign detectionGeely offers a seven-year, unlimited km warranty on the EX2, with eight years' coverage for the high-voltage battery.Roadside assistance for seven years is standard and the option to buy up to seven years' of prepaid servicing at $1642 also provides peace-of-mind, the latter saving you $410 compared to the $2052 it costs paying per service. Intervals are every 12 months or 20,000km.

Geely has announced it plans to double exports as part of a recent earnings call as it seeks aggressive global growth to escape the perils of an extremely competitive Chinese domestic marketLi Shufu, the chairman of Geely Group, which also controls Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Lynk & Co and Zeekr, said the company would achieve these goals not through increased Chinese domestic production, but by increased global production.He said this was because “the world is undergoing a historic shift toward de-globalisation”, in reference to an increase in tariffs across the world that are restricting global trade.Geely Group plans to export 920,000 vehicles for the next financial year, which is more than double the amount of units it shipped last year, as reported by Nikkei Asia.To combat the rise of global tariffs, the company plans to build more cars in Europe, including at a Ford plant in Spain, and at existing Volvo factories, rather than expand production capacity at home.In addition, the company has expanded closer to Australia, including knockdown assembly in Indonesia, a plan to build Zeekrs at Proton facilities in Malaysia, and is said to be in talks to follow its rivals GWM and Chery in setting up manufacturing in Thailand.“De-globalisation” is a major problem for Chinese automakers, which are increasingly seeking higher profits in global markets to escape razor thin margins and shrinking sales in the hyper-competitive Chinese domestic market.Zeekr in particular has been an overperformer for Geely, significantly raising the average sale price of their vehicles. The company said in its most recent financial results that the 9X had become the best-selling car above the equivalent of $100,000 in China, and the brand had nearly doubled volume year-on-year.Australia is perhaps the ideal model for the Chinese giant’s growth aspirations, with both Geely and Zeekr experiencing explosive growth over the past year.Despite a slowly-but-surely new model approach compared to rivals like BYD and Chery, Geely is up over 500 per cent year-on-year and has already surpassed Volkswagen and Honda to become nearly on-par with once-favourites like Subaru and Nissan.Its model range thus far only consists of the EX5 and the related Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid mid-sizers, as well as the new EX2 hatchback. The company will launch the Camry-rivalling Emgrand sedan and a larger SUV in 2027.Zeekr will also expand on its model range, adding the much-hyped 8X large SUV and 9X flagship, both with plug-in hybrid power over the course of 2027. The 7GT electric wagon will be added before the end of 2026. All are expected to add significant volume for the brand.Geely will need to double its volume to challenge its best-selling Chinese rivals in Australia. Chery and MG that have each sold nearly 30,000 vehicles so far in 2026, as well as GWM that has sold over 30,000 units and BYD has crested the 60,000 unit mark, but it is tracking ahead of other new rivals like GAC, XPeng and Omaoda Jaecoo.One thing is clear though. With relatively high margins, success in challenging established players, and a solid array of new products due over the next year, we’ll be seeing a lot more Geelys and Zeekrs on Australian roads.

Electric cars are about to change forever as another brand confirms solid-state battery trials in 2027 that put 1000km-plus driving ranges within striking distance.Geely is joining BYD and battery giant CATL in installing futuristic solid-state batteries in vehicles next year, according to Chinese reports.The Chinese behemoth said it would roll out the tech across its brands, which include Geely, Polestar, Volvo, Zeekr and more.Solid-state batteries are often touted as the holy grail of EV cells, they are more energy dense, faster to charge, work better in cold temperatures and are less prone to fire than conventional units.This means brands can install smaller batteries for similar driving range to current EVs, which means they are lighter, more efficient and less of a strain on resources.The reduction in weight and improved packaging that goes with smaller batteries also opens up the possibility of electric performance cars, utes and 4WDs that are all hamstrung by excess weight of current EVs.Makers can also choose to keep the batteries the same size as current units and effectively double the vehicle’s driving range.Driving ranges of more than 1000km have been claimed for the future electric vehicles fitted with these batteries.Geely announced earlier this year that it would start production of its own solid-state batteries after a validation process before installing the new battery type in vehicles for next year.Some reports put Geely’s new cells at 500Wh per kg, which is more than double the average battery.It is also more than double the Golden Brick battery found in some Zeekr 7X models, which have a driving range of close to 500km.The Golden Brick is also immensely fast to charge and suck up 450kW of juice when connected to an appropriate DC charger.This solid-state battery could push the driving range of popular EVs such as the Geely EX5, Volvo EX60 and Zeekr 7X well beyond 1000km.So far no Chinese brand has publicly revealed the results of its solid-state trails, which pours cold water on the idea the batteries will arrive soon and change the game.European makers BMW and Mercedes-Benz have shown off what their prototypes can do.In August 2025, Mercedes-Benz completed a trip from Stuttgart in Germany to Malmo, Sweden without charging.The trip covered 1205km and the prototype vehicle had 130km of range left when it reached its location.Mercedes-Benz Chief Technology Officer Markus Schafer said he wants to have this tech in production vehicles before the end of the decade.“The solid-state battery is a true game-changer for electric mobility. With the successful long-distance drive of the EQS, we show that this technology delivers not only in the lab but also on the road."Our goal is to bring innovations like this into series production by the end of the decade and offer our customers a new level of range and comfort,” said Schafer.The reality is the tech will come, but it will likely be expensive and reserved for high-end cars before trickling down to more mainstream models.Audi engineers previously told CarsGuide they might never be mainstream and will be a niche application because they are too hard to manufacture currently.

The Geely EX2 Complete is a budget-friendly entry into the EV market from fast-growing brand Geely, competing with the likes of the BYD Atto 1, GAC Aion UT and MG4.Starting from $26,490, before on-road costs, the base Complete comes with plenty of features as standard including: Auto LED headlights and tail-lightsPowered seat adjustment14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen 8.8-inch driver displayWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoUSB-A and USB-C portsFour-speaker sound systemDigital radioGeely connected servicesKeyless entry and startLED interior lightingIt’s 4135mm long, 1805mm wide and 1580mm tall, with a 2645mm wheelbase. Between the 375L boot and 75 under-bonnet storage (or ‘frunk’) there’s a segment-defying 450L of luggage space.It’s powered by a 60kW/150Nm motor, mounted at the rear axle, which Geely claims is able to drive the EX2 from 0-100km/h in a sluggish 14.2 seconds. It’s limited to 130km/h.Drawing power from a 35kW battery, the EX2 uses a claimed 15.9kWh/100km, which results in a modest driving range of 252km according to Geely. DC Charging is 60kW, while AC is just 6.2kW.While there’s no ANCAP rating for the EX2 yet, Geely says it was designed with current testing protocols in mind and expects a maximum five-star rating.The list of standard safety features in the 2026 EX2 includes:Seven airbagsOccupant sensor and reminderSurround-view camera Rear parking sensorsHigh-beam assistPedestrian alert (low speed)Traction and stability controlHill-descent controlAdaptive cruise controlFront- and rear-cross traffic alertFront and rear collision warningBlind-spot monitoring Driver monitoringEmergency lane-keepLane-change assistTraffic sign detectionGeely offers a seven-year, unlimited km warranty on the EX2, with eight years coverage for the high-voltage battery.Seven years of roadside assistance and the option to buy up to seven years' of prepaid servicing at $1642 also provide peace-of-mind. Intervals are every 12 months or 20,000km.

A new game-changing hybrid engine is coming. The D20 Methanol is a range-extender engine made by global automotive engineering firm Horse Powertrain, a joint venture between Renault and Geely. Horse makes a range of engines, electric motors and transmissions for Renault Group, Geely, Volvo, Proton, Nissan and Mitsubishi. Its latest engine burns 100 per cent methanol fuel, opposed to ethanol alternatives in current mainstream petrol engines. The engine is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged unit that produces 105kW (weighing 170kg) to charge the battery.Its sole purpose is to power the battery, with a lightweight electric motor responsible for driving the wheels. The disk-shaped electric motor lies flat, meaning it is 46 per cent shorter than vertically-mounted alternatives.It is said to have 63 per cent better power density, but Horse has not revealed the engine's total power output yet.Horse claims a 40kWh battery can be recharged using less than 20L of methanol fuel, making it one of the most efficient electrified set-ups on the market.  The set-up generates 1kWh of electricity for every 2.1kWh of methanol burned, and can perform cold starts in temperatures as low as -35-degrees. The engine also has less emissions output. It complies with the European Union’s Euro 7 standard, which will become the benchmark later this year. What will the D20 Methanol engine be used in? It is unclear what this new engine will be used for, with Horse remaining coy on which of its carmaker clients will receive it. Range-extenders have become increasingly popular in China, especially in large SUVs, and the D20 could be the latest example of this. Geely might be looking to gain an advantage over other range-extender competition, the Leapmotor D19 and Volkswagen ID. Era 9X.China produces the majority of the world’s production of methanol, and is now heavily investing in renewable ethanol as opposed to coal-based.A low-emissions methanol-fueled car could be ahead of the curve in China for Geely.  There is potential for models featuring this new range-extender set-up to come to Australia in the coming years, but nothing is confirmed at this stage.

Small cars and light cars aren’t nearly as popular as they once were, but that could be changing thanks to the increasing accessibility of electric cars, said one new brand’s product boss.Geely's Director of Product Planning and Marketing Andrew Tuitahi said he sees “promising signs” for small and light car segments.While the sales figures aren’t proof at this stage, with EVs making people consider a smaller car than they might otherwise buy.“I can't say that it's saved, but there's definitely some promising signs,” Tuitahi told CarsGuide. “The unique thing that ‘new energy’, battery electric plug-in hybrids are doing is causing people to reconsider.”Tuitahi said the downsides once associated with light and small cars are more and more being addressed by new compact EVs, after earlier in the day having pointed out the healthy list of features in the Geely EX2.“So a lot of the compromises that you typically make if you were going to buy a b-segment or a light hatchback - things like drivetrain, power, performance, safety, style, you know, space - a lot of those things are solved with a battery electric platform. “So I think consumers are able to prioritise maybe some features by sacrificing a segment, but still getting that same space.”While the EX2 does cover much of the above, it should be pointed out its entry grade has a very modest 60kW output in the base Complete variant, or 80kW in the Inspire.Tuitahi added that along with the price and the overall size of the car, the range of a small EV is less a priority than it would be in larger EVs that are more likely to be used on long trips.“It really depends on the use case,” he said.“So we'd be encouraging our dealers to work with customers to help identify how they're going to be using their cars and whether or not they need that range. “You know… looking at the average kilometers traveled, certainly someone charging once a week would be within that range for an EX2. “Someone who can trickle charge every day is never going to be less than 70 or 80 per cent battery. So, it really comes down to use case.”

The Australian car industry is in the middle of a major shake-up and not all brands are likely to survive it. In fact, I’d go so far as to say some of the biggest name brands, car makers we have loved for decades, may disappear within the next five years.That’s the hard reality of the dramatic change that is sweeping the industry. The new wave of Chinese car brands have arrived and quickly established themselves with solid market share. But that share has to come from somewhere and the reality is, the brands that are feeling the squeeze more than any other are those smack dab at the heart of the market.Looking at the sales data for the first half of 2026 it’s clear who are the biggest winners and losers. Geely is up 494.6 per cent, BYD has risen 124.1 per cent and Chery sales are 76.8 per cent improved, plus both GWM, MG, Omoda-Jaecoo and Zeekr are also increasing their presence.So where are those buyers coming from? Well, Toyota is down 21.4 per cent, Mazda is 17.2 per cent down and Ford has dropped 10.6 per cent. But I’m not suggesting any of those brands are doomed, Toyota is confident of a second half bounce back and Ford remains atop the all-important ute market. Instead, the bigger concern are the brands in the middle and lower half of the top 10, which are shedding sales at a higher rate and face increasing and long-term pressure from the newer arrivals. Nissan has dropped 32.8 per cent, Mitsubishi is down 25.7 per cent, Subaru down 25.6 per cent and Volkswagen has dropped 16.5 per cent, and there is no clear pathway for them to regain so much lost ground.While I’ve been talking strictly in sale percentage terms, the raw numbers don’t make good reading for those brands. BYD is obviously having a huge year, notching over 52,000 sales, but it’s brands like Geely (10,970 sales), Omoda-Jaecoo (8808) and even Zeekr (5835) that are starting to make serious in-roads on the likes Subaru (14,817), Nissan (13,854) and Volkswagen (12,333).In simple terms, the Australia new car pie is only so big, it typically hovers around the 1.2 million mark each year, so the slice of pie for each brand will get smaller as more and more brands enter the market. Short of a sudden and dramatic expansion of the number of people buying new cars, all of the established brands will need to get comfortable selling less volume. Brands will need to adapt to this new world order to survive and not just the so-called ‘legacy’ brands like Nissan, Subaru, etc, but also the new, predominantly Chinese brands. Since 2021 there have been more than a dozen new brands enter the market from China alone and there are more coming, with Forthing, Lepas, iCaur and Jetour all confirmed for Australia.There simply aren’t enough buyers to make more than 70 car brands viable in Australia so get used to hearing announcements like we have recently with Peugeot and Fiat about ‘reevaluating’ or ‘restructuring’ or just plain ‘leaving’ the Australian market for good.Ultimately who survives and who doesn’t will come down to you, the new car customer, as your choice will dictate which brands maintain enough sales to remain viable - and which ones fade away.

The 2026 Geely EX2 hopes to come to Australia and take the lead in the small EV space. In fact, it sold in enough numbers in China last year that it alone would make up close to half of Australia’s total annual new car sales. We took the EX2 for a first-impressions drive around Sydney's northern suburbs to see if the little EV has what it takes.