Geely Starray Reviews

China is bringing sedans back, and this latest one is an exciting prospect for Australia. The Geely Galaxy TT is a Toyota Camry-sized electric sports sedan expected to launch in China soon. A spokesperson for Geely Australia said there was no news on the Galaxy TT from an Australian perspective yet.The Galaxy TT is more evidence sedans are back on the agenda, potentially curbing the SUV dominance of recent years. It will directly tackle the hugely popular Xiaomi SU7 in China, which has continued to see order numbers surge.It could join an increasingly busy sedan segment in Australia, which is fast proving the new battleground for Chinese brands in Australia. The Toyota Camry hybrid has been the main player of the segment for the past few years, but it is now finding itself with more company, particularly from China.Geely’s Emgrand plug-in hybrid will be the brand’s first sedan model launching in Australia in 2027, with a fully-electric version of the car coming later. Geely is playing catch-up on rival Chinese brands like BYD that has already introduced its Seal 6 PHEV and Seal EV sedans.The Tesla Model 3’s resurgence is also challenging the Camry’s stronghold in the sedan market.The Galaxy TT is generally bigger than many of its sedan rivals like the Seal and Model 3, meaning it could complement the smaller Emgrand in Geely’s portfolio. It is roughly the same size as the BYD Seal 7 plug-in hybrid sedan that was recently approved for sale in Australia. The Galaxy TT will be available with a single rear-mounted electric motor, producing 245kW and a dual electric motor all-wheel drive variant, with 425kW.It has three battery choices, which are 52kWh, 64kWh and 75kWh, with a driving range of up to 725km, according to generous CLTC standards. Other details on the car remain scarce, but we can expect more information in the coming months.  

New mandatory national standards for vehicle safety in China have cracked down on battery safety in an effort to make battery fires a thing of the past.This will affect cars manufactured in China and subsequently exported to Australia. The new standards increase the requirements on safety equipment for high-voltage batteries fitted to both fully electric and hybrid vehicles.The new rules, according to Chinese state-backed media outlets, stipulate that high voltage batteries must have defined power on and off states, define allowable temperature ranges for high-voltage batteries and include a requirement for a ‘thermal event’ alarm that allows at least a five-minute warning prior to explosion.It also states smoke from batteries must not be able to harm vehicle occupants, and introduces a new impact test to ensure batteries can survive debris strikes, or the vehicle bottoming-out.There is a new safety requirement for fast charging, which requires an external short circuit test after 300 cycles to ensure the battery doesn’t ignite or explode after such rigorous energy exchange.It is worth noting that many electric vehicle batteries sold in Australia have already been tested to a higher standard, including batteries from the world’s largest manufacturer, China’s CATL.BYD also subjects its signature ‘Blade’ batteries to higher testing standards than the new national requirements, and the company uses a less volatile LFP chemistry.Experts quoted by Chinese state media say the new rules will continue to cause a consolidation of EV automakers as compliance costs for producing electric cars increase, and that the cost of batteries is expected to increase. The new safety rules are also expected to reduce insurance premiums and increase used car values, at least for Chinese consumers.The rules will have an impact in Australia, as over 34 per cent of new cars sold into our market are now manufactured in China (regardless of their brand) and many more still use batteries sourced from BYD or CATL even if they are sourced from another country.Other new Chinese regulations impacting the Australian market include the country recently banning sunken or concealed door handles and yoke-style steering wheels over safety concerns.The changes are visibly impacting many new Chinese cars headed to our market in the coming 12 months, with many updated or facelifted models complying with the new rules by featuring traditional door handles. There has also been an increase in physical buttons and control dials in many upcoming cars as both Chinese and European regulators look to crack down on key vehicle functions being touchscreen-based in the near future.The local safety body, ANCAP, is expected to follow suit with European regulations, which it broadly follows, although the organisation told CarsGuide earlier this year that it regularly monitored safety developments in other countries from which Australian new cars are sourced. It updates its policies on a three-year cycle.The news will no doubt come as an additional peace of mind for a wave of new car buyers looking to make the switch to fully electric or hybrid vehicles for the frist time, although increasing insurance costs for many new brands in Australia are affected by multiple factors including confidence in service networks and parts availability, which for some new brands still sees increased premiums.

Geely has revealed more details about its upcoming plug-in hybrid off-road SUV ahead of the 4WD’s launch later this year.Geely confirmed the boxy new SUV will produce a combined 830kW from a tri-motor hybrid system in a social post overseas. The company claims the Battleship 700 will be the most powerful plug-in hybrid off-roader by power-to-weight ratio (at roughly 290kW/ton).It also confirmed that it will feature at least a rear differential lock between the two rear axles, as hinted at by its off-road platform reveal at the Beijing Motor Show.The front axle connects the engine and electric motor to the wheels via a hybrid transaxle.Geely says this makes the upcoming off-roader “the world’s only mass-produced plug-in hybrid with three motors, four-wheel drive, and a differential lock.”It will also be equipped with an in-house developed ‘dynamic’ control system for on-road handling, which automatically can switch between front- rear- and all-wheel drive when needed, and will also feature what the brand says will be an ‘AI-enhanced’ off-road logic system.Other details the brand has previously drip-fed include an 800mm wading depth, ‘crab-walk’ mode, and an adjustable air suspension system.The Battleship 700 is expected to launch in China before the end of 2026, and the company has previously told UK media the new 4WD will be headed there, confirming right-hand drive production.The drip-feed of new details on this boxy off-roader come as Geely’s rival GAC has just unveiled and detailed its boxy off-roader, the Yue 7, which is expected in a similar time frame, and is also expected to make its way to Australia. With ‘only’ 400kW though, it appears Geely’s off-roader will be aiming at a higher positioning than GAC’s more Prado-adjacent offering.Both cars will arrive to challenge the existing boxy hybrid off-roaders from China, the GWM Tank 300 and 500, as well as the Denza B5 and B8.Expect full specs on the powertrain and confirmed off-road angles at a later date.The interior of the off-roader is also yet to be fully revealed, and images seen so far have been primarily pre-production or camouflaged examples.It is also expected the Battleship 700's architecture will spawn a ute, although the brand recently told CarsGuide this model is two to three years away and "will be a little different" from what we've seen so far.Geely has ambitions to be a top-five car company globally, although at a local level it has a more slowly-but-surely approach compared to some of its contemporaries.For example, the boss of the local operation, Alex Gu, told CarsGuide it planned to have a slowly-but-surely approach to its model roll out, in order for each of its product offerings to be a success in their respective segments.“We don’t want to make chaos. So we’ll bring each model to a segment in a significant position, this is our target,” he said.He said he considered around 1000 units a month the bar for "success".Gu noted the brand’s only two products to the market to date, the EX5 and Starray EM-i are relative successes and top-three sellers in their respective fully electric and plug-in hybrid sub-categories.Next for Geely is the EX2 fully electric hatchback before the end of 2026, and the Emgrand sedan, due early next year. From there the brand is plotting at least one three-row SUV, which could be either this Battleship 700 or the M9, which is a more road-going alternative.

Geely’s popular EX5 will receive some major upgrades in 2027, with a new update leaked ahead of its Chinese launch.The new information, which comes from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, shows a significant EX5 update, with images revealing a refreshed design, new wheel choices and a substantial upgrade to power outputs.The current car, which is one of the best-selling EVs in the country this year, is powered by a 160kW/320Nm electric motor, but the new version scores a significantly more powerful unit rated at 245kW, according to the certification documents.There are minor changes to the vehicles overall dimensions, in large part due to its redesigned front and rear bumpers.Like the related Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid, the new EX5 features a more contemporary ‘GEELY’ typeface across the rear bumper under the light strip. The new EX5 also gets traditional doorhandles rather than the sunken pop-out ones, which appear on the current Australian version.This is because of new Chinese regulations, which crack down on flush or sunken door handles due to safety issues, particularly in low temperature climates where they were freezing shut. Some outlets are also reporting the charging port has migrated from the front three quarter panel to the rear, although this isn’t evident from the MIIT images.The updated EX5’s interior is yet to be fully revealed, with only glimpses in the regulatory filing images, but expect an array of minor changes and perhaps even an increase in the array of physical buttons available, which is another area Chinese regulators are looking to crack down on.The new car also appears with a LiDAR pod on the roof suggesting it will come with an upgrade to its safety functions, although these high-end autonomous driving features for the Chinese market are usually left out of export versions.The EX5 has been one of the electric car success stories of the year in 2026, having moved an impressive 4453 units, nearly double that of the BYD Atto 3 or Kia EV5, and ten times the volume of the Leapmotor C10. In the mid-sized electric segment, it ranks only behind the Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion 7.The current version has already received significant updates since its launch in 2025, as the brand moves to quickly address buyer concerns and roll-out improvements, including significant software upgrades, and a recent update that brought a larger battery to the mid-size electric SUV.

Audi RS5: Ready to enter the German ‘Big Three’ performance octagon with the BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C63S, the new Audi RS5, offered as a sedan and ‘Avant’ wagon, is a plug-in hybrid combining a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine with a powerful single electric motor for outputs of 470kW/825Nm. Pricing is already confirmed from $179,900, before on-road costs. Read moreBentley Bentayga Speed: Swapping out the British brand’s epic (but emissions constrained) 6.0L W12 for a fearsome 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 has made this luxurious SUV even faster and louder. How about 478kW/850Nm and $525,000, before on-road costs, when it arrives here in the next couple of months?Read moreBMW iX3: Arriving in early July, BMW’s much-anticipated 'Neue Klasse' iX3 is an ultra-modern mid-size five-door SUV with a pure-electric powertrain initially launching with one model, the 345kW/645Nm 50 xDrive (109,900, before on-road costs). The 235kW/500Nm iX3 40 ($89,900, BOC), which slips under the Luxury Car Tax threshold, will follow in Q4.  Read moreBMW M2 xDrive: New compact muscle coupe variant picks up all-wheel drive to put the 353kW/600Nm produced by its 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder on the ground. Zero to 100km/h in 3.7sec with cost-of-entry at $172,900, before on-road costs when it arrives in Q4.Read moreBYD Atto 3 Evo: Prior to the all-new next-gen Atto 3 likely hitting Aussie showrooms sometime in 2027, the Evo version of the current model gives it rear-wheel drive. There’s also an all-wheel-drive flagship with 330kW available. Likely local touchdown in Q3.Read moreChery KP31: And you thought there wasn’t room for another ute in the Aussie market. The subject of a local naming contest (Orca is looking likely, as it tops BYD Shark) the Chery ‘KP31’ is scheduled for a Q4 launch, featuring a ladder chassis and a segment-first 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel and electric motor hybrid powertrain. A petrol-electric hybrid will arrive in 2027.Read moreCupra VZ5: Fire-breathing mid-size SUV variant powered by an Audi RS3-sourced 2.5-litre turbo-petrol five-cylinder engine sending 287kW/480Nm to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission. Zero to 100km/h comes up in 4.2 seconds – 0.7 seconds quicker than the 228kW VZx, making it one of the fastest combustion-powered SUVs out there. Read moreDeepal S05: The Deepal S05 small-medium SUV joins the S07 mid-size SUV, likely offered in range-extender hybrid and/or pure-electric form. ADR compliance is locked in and pre-orders are open on the brand’s Aussie website.Read moreFerrari 849 Testarossa: Okay, the shopping list - milk, bread, eggs and a $932,648 Ferrari 849 Testarossa. Not for everyone, then. But what a car! Zero to 100km/h in 2.3sec courtesy of a twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain sending 611kW/842Nm to all four wheels. Coupe in Q4, with the roofless Spider arring in early ‘27.  Read moreGeely EX2: Set to arrive in the third quarter, this budget-focused electric compact SUV could start under $30K, before on-road costs. It has a single motor driving the rear wheels and two battery sizes are offered in China, providing 310km or 410km of range, respectively. Read moreGenesis GV60 Magma: Part of the upcoming next-gen GV60 line-up, the Magma is a performance-focused pure-electric powerhouse SUV riding on the same ‘E-GMP’ platform as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Dual electric motors for 478kW/790Nm, 0-200km/h in 10.9sec and maximum velocity of 264km/h. Arrives in July.Read moreGWM Wey G9: The Wey G9 (name yet to be confirmed for Australia) is a luxury plug-in hybrid people mover scheduled for Q4 with the V9X PHEV SUV spilling over into 2027. Its chunky 44.2 kWh battery provides a claimed pure-electric driving range of up to 170 km with a combined range of more than 1000km. Read moreHonda Super One: Super by name, super by nature, this pure-electric ‘kei’ car is guaranteed to put a smile on your face with a likely Aussie starting price around $35,000. A front-mounted electric motor produces 70kW/162Nm and Honda claims up to 274km of range.  Read moreHyundai Palisade XRT Pro: A tough looking Toyota LandCruiser rival with twin, chassis-mounted tow hooks as well as more ground clearance for useful approach, departure and breakover angles. Add a rear electronic limited-slip differential for better off-road capability as well as downhill brake control and new terrain modes for mud, sand and snow. Read moreIsuzu D-Max EV: One of the most popular utes in the county could get a pure-electric option powered by front- and rear-mounted electric motors, producing 140kW, with front motor torque at 108Nm and rear motor torque at 217Nm for a maximum 325Nm and full-time 4WD. A 67kWh battery offers a driving range of 263km (WLTP). No launch confirmation yet, but Isuzu Ute Australia says “it will continue to monitor local needs and evaluate the reception of BEVs”. Read moreJeep Compass: Potentially a Q4 arrival, the new Compass rides on the same ‘STLA Medium’ platform as Stellantis stablemates such as the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008. It will join the smaller Avenger in Jeep’s electrified line-up. There should be a choice of 106kW 48V eHybrid and 145kW plug-in hybrid powertrains, both likely based on the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine carried over from the current-generation. Read moreKGM Musso Q300: Dual-cab only, powered by a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine producing 150kW/441Nm mated to a six-speed torque-converter auto transmission with 4WD and a locking rear differential. Coil- or leaf-spring rear suspension options with a payload of 500kg for the former and 700kg for the latter. Features a 12.3-inch digital dash and matching multimedia touchscreen.   Read moreKia Seltos: Coming in Q4, We’re expecting a front-wheel drive version with outputs to be approximately 113kW/265Nm, plus an all-wheel drive with 131kW, though its rear wheels will be powered by an electric motor and not mechanically connected to the front wheels. The all-new Seltos should start around $30K, before on-road costs. A specific Australian suspension tune is already in the works.  Read moreLeapmotor B05: Lobbing in Q4, the Leapmotor B05 is a five-door, electric, rear-wheel drive, hot-ish hatch with 180kW/320Nm in the flagship Ultra variant. A choice of 56.2kWh or 67.1kWh battery, delivers a range of 500km or 600km (CLTC) and we’d be shocked if it wasn't among the cheapest warmed-over hatch offerings in the local market.   Read moreLexus ES: Electric versions of the striking all-new Lexus ES have been approved for Australian sale, the dual-motor, all-wheel drive ES500e flagship producing 252kW. The ES350e is powered by a single front-mounted electric motor delivering 170kW. However, the brand has confirmed hybrid powertrains will eventually be offered locally.  Read moreMazda CX-6e: Set to challenge the Tesla Model Y on price, the Mazda CX-6e is likely to land with a starting price around $54K. A 78kWh battery delivers a 450km (WLTP) range, the rear-mounted 190kW/290Nm electric motor drives the rear wheels and 0-100km/h comes up in 7.9sec. Its 195kW DC charging capacity is good for a 10-80 per cent top-up in under 25 minutes.Read moreMercedes-Benz GLB: Launch line-up of the pure-electric small SUV will be single-motor rear-wheel drive (200kW/335Nm) GLB250+ or dual-motor all-wheel drive (260kW/515Nm) GLB350. Its 800-volt architecture allows an ultra-rapid DC charging rate of up to 320kW. Three hybrid powertrains will be added later in front- or all-wheel drive all using a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 48-volt assistance. Read moreMG QS PHEV: Launched in plug-in hybrid form in the UK with an Aussie introduction likely this year. Plug-in hybrid uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine paired to an electric motor for around 220kW combined. A 24.7kWh battery pack grants it a WLTP-certified electric range of 100km.Read moreMitsubishi Pajero: One of the year’s most significant arrivals comes with the return of the Mitsubishi Pajero, with sights set on the upcoming Y63 Nissan Patrol and current Toyota LandCruiser 300. Most likely powertrain is an updated version of the 2.4-litre turbo-diesel powering the current Triton range (150kW/470Nm). Looking like a Q4 launch.Read moreNissan Patrol: Nissan Australia has confirmed orders for the new ‘Y63’ Patrol will “open in coming months” with vehicles on the ground at the end of the year or very early next. Its 3.5-litre V6 turbo-petrol engine is derived from GT-R’s and produces 317kW/700Nm, dwarfing the 298kW/560Nm outputs of the soon-to-be-defunct V8 of the Y62 Patrol. Read moreOmoda 4: New entry-level model for the brand with edgy, angular looks and a choice of internal-combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure-electric power in the domestic Chinese market. Riding on Chery’s ‘T1X’ platform, the Omoda 4 is a likely Toyota Corolla Cross competitor.Read morePolestar 5: Headed our way in Q3, the 5.1m long ultra-slippery (Cd 0.24) Polestar 5 offers the performance, comfort and touring ability of the Porsche Taycan and its Audi e-tron GT sibling at an appreciably lower price. Two versions coming, both powered by dual motors - the Dual Motor (550kW/812Nm) at $171,100 and the Performance (650kW/1015Nm) at $193,100 (both before on-road costs).Read morePorsche Cayenne Electric: Dropping in Q3, as the name implies, this is a pure-electric beast with even the entry-grade (of three) Cayenne Electric ($167,800, before on-road costs) featuring dual motors, all-wheel drive and producing 325kW. The flagship Turbo accelerates from 0-100km/h in hypercar-equalling 2.5sec thanks to its stonking 850kW/1500Nm outputs.  Read moreRenault Symbioz: On course for a July touchdown, the Symbioz is a Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross rival with an entry-level mild-hybrid 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine powertrain producing 104kW/245Nm. A 1.8L full-hybrid boosts that to 116kW/265Nm. Pricing starts from $36,990. Read moreSmart #5: It’s been a long time in the offing but the Smart #5 plug-in hybrid SUV is a likely Aussie arrival in the second half of the year. It offers up to 252km of pure-electric range and up to 320kW of total power from its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol, four-cylinder engine and three-speed hybrid transaxle motor powertrain. Claimed fuel economy is as low as 4.4L/100km (when its battery is depleted). Read moreToyota RAV4 PHEV: Another significant new entry. FWD variants of the RAV4 PHEV will be powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and front-mounted electric motor, producing 201kW. AWD variants add a rear-mounted motor, increasing power to 227kW. Pricing will start from $58,840, before on-road costs, making it roughly $15K more expensive than the car's base standard hybrid variant ($45,990).  Read moreVolkswagen T-Roc: Sleeker looking and bigger, with a more premium vibe, VW’s small SUV also features new powertrains. A 1.5-litre turbo-petrol mild-hybrid in two states of tune (85kW and 110kW) for FWD versions and a more powerful 2.0L mild-hybrid arriving later. A T-Roc R is confirmed to follow, too.  Read moreXPeng G9: As the legal cage fight between previous XPeng importer True EV and the XPeng factory continues, the priority is getting G6s back into showrooms. But the luxury G9 electric SUV is a possible addition. Rear- or all-wheel drive with two battery options, a driving range of up to 680km and loads of included features for an estimated starting price in the region of $70K.Read moreZeekr 8X: Upper mid-sized, plug-in hybrid luxury SUV to sit above the mid-size fully electric 7X and below the flagship three-row 9X. Pairs a 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol, four-cylinder engine (205kW/410Nm) with dual electric motors for a combined 660kW/935Nm and a 0-100km/h sprint in 3.7 seconds. A 55kWh or 70kWh battery pack with a 900-volt architecture allows ultra-fast charging and either a 320km or 410km EV driving range. Probable starting price in the $80K band.Read moreZeekr 9X: Ultra-luxury, upper-large, three-row SUV offering a dual- or tri-motor plug-in hybrid system, backed by a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and a massive battery pack. The result is either 660kW/935Nm of combined power for the two lower variants, or 1030kW/1410Nm for the top-spec car, as well as between 300 and 380km of fully electric driving range. Standard equipment and features are suitably extensive. Expect a starting price just over $100K.Read more

For the first time in Australia, electric cars are outselling diesel ones in what appears to be a major turning point for the Australian market.The latest data, compiled from both the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council, shows registrations of electric cars have more than doubled year-on-year, and now account for just under 20 per cent of Australia’s new car market.This is the culmination of multiple factors, including an influx of affordable Chinese models as the country’s behemoth manufacturers seek export markets to flee tough local conditions, and Australia’s new vehicle efficiency standards (NVES) heavily incentivise lower-emissions models, either to avoid fines or rack up credits.On top of this, skyrocketing fuel prices have clearly made many Australians think twice about committing to another combustion car, and the prospect of government incentives ending further down the track as outlined in the latest federal budget has no doubt only bolstered the latest figures.Digging into the data and one thing becomes obvious - amongst the 10 best-selling EVs, all of them were built in China. In what should come as a warning to legacy automakers yet to embrace “China Speed” as part of their business model in our market, even the most successful models from Tesla and Kia are built in China.This trend looks to continue, with Mazda the next brand to introduce Chinese joint-venture models via the Mazda 6e sedan and CX-6e SUV, both of which use Changan platforms. The Japanese giant will no doubt be betting heavily on these two models to reduce its market-leading projected fine under the new NVES rules.Nissan will also begin to introduce its array of successful-in-China Dongfeng-based models in the coming years, with Suzuki, Toyota and Volkswagen potentially being left behind as they continue to source cars from more traditional manufacturing locations like Japan, Thailand and Europe.May in particular was a bumper one, not just for market leader Tesla, but also for keen newcomers Jaecoo and Geely. BYD dominates nearly half of the top-10 charts, including the Atto 2 and Atto 1, which both arrived in 2026.EV Sales May 2026The year-to-date numbers paint a slightly different, but overall familiar story, with the Model Y managing to maintain its lead over the Sealion 7.Some year-to-date surprises include Geely’s EX5 rising to third place and Jaecoo’s aggressively-priced J5 has largely captured the entry-level EV space.Zeekr has had a huge year off the back of the launch of its 7X as it keeps up with its big order bank, and Kia has managed to hold onto 9th place with its relatively popular EV5.The Tesla Model 3 is in seventh place and is the only sedan on the list.EV sales year-to-date 2026It is hard to say what this chart will look like by the end of 2026, although the complete and ongoing re-shuffle of Australia’s favourite cars looks to continue. One thing is for sure though, China has the market well and truly cornered on fully electric cars in Australia.

The electric vehicle revolution is in full swing after another standout month in Australia. There were 21,303 EVs sold in May 2026, as they continue to take hold at the expense of petrol- and diesel-powered cars. SUVs remain the dominant player in the electric segment, accounting for nine of the 10 best sellers.Tesla’s smashing May performance was headlined by 5605 sales for its Model Y SUV, cementing its position as the leading EV in Australia.The Model Y also claimed the title for the best-selling car in Australia last month.  The Jaecoo J5 EV had its best month on sale since it hit Aussie showrooms at the start of this year, selling 2126 units, up from less than 700 in April. This makes the J5 the best-selling small SUV in the country currently, even outselling its closely related and cheaper petrol sibling, the Chery Tiggo 4. The Geely EX5 also surged up the sales charts, achieving 1814 sales, while the BYD Sealion 7 experienced another bumper month, with 1538 sales. The Zeekr 7X rounds out the top five following a continued solid performance since its introduction late last year. BYD’s budget EV trio the Atto 3, Atto 2 and Atto 1 shifted more than 2000 units between them.The BYD Seal (580) is the only non-SUV on this list.Every car in the top 10 selling EVs for May is primarily built in China, with none coming from legacy brands. Some of the other EVs to miss out on a top 10 spot include the MG4 as well as Kia's EV3 and EV5 duo.Top selling electric cars May 2026

Chinese cars have entered “uncharted territory”, according to Vice President of Geely Group Li Chuanhai.Chuanhai explained that as Chinese automakers became global entities, they could no longer rely on challenging the status quo of so-called legacy brands, but would have to innovate on their own if they want to move the industry forward.“Franky, the Chinese automotive industry has reached its current position by standing on the shoulders of giants in the century-old automotive industry,” he said.“But now that we’re taking the lead, we have entered uncharted territory. How do we innovate in uncharted territory? I think our logic for innovation needs to change."He said Geely was well positioned to provide multiple power options, such as as petrol, hybrid and EV, across many markets, but there would still be the need to innovate further in the future.“Geely adheres to its energy diversification strategy. Our Thor hybrid, SEA EV, i-HEV, and green methanol developed over 20 years have created a complete ecosystem covering pure electric, hybrid, range extender, methanol, and charging/battery swapping. We’ve successfully explored every path to provide global users with more choices,” he said.Chuanhai outlined some investments Geely was making including collaborations with “more than 50 universities on basic research”. He said this “may not yield immediate returns” for the group, but that innovation required “adequate resource investment, effective ecosystem collaboration, and sufficient talent density”.Chuanhai earmarked the success of its premium Zeekr arm as evidence Geely had moved beyond its challenger status.“We don't have the time to build the brand story that century-old established brands have accumulated over time,” he said.“New energy and intelligent technologies have brought us opportunities for brand advancement. However, we also believe that the foundation for brand advancement lies in safety, chassis and powertrain—areas that best reflect our core professional capabilities."He said the brand is aiming for Volvo’s ultimate safety, Lotus’ ultimate handling and Horse Powertrain’s ultimate performance.He said the 750,000 units Zeekr has delivered in its short existence have an average selling price of more than the equivalent of $62,000, comparatively very high for a Chinese brand, with the national average being a little over half that ($35,000).“The essence of Chinese automotive globalisation is not about low prices and high volume, but about being rooted in technology and driven by brands, ultimately moving from simply selling cars to defining the future of automobiles,” he said.“We hope that Geely's experience can serve as a model for Chinese automakers going global, and we believe that China's automotive industry is fully capable of winning respect and establishing a firm foothold in the world.”Next for Geely in Australia will be its EX2 fully electric hatchback, which will be followed by the Emgrand EM-i plug-in hybrid sedan. Zeekr will launch its flagship 9X plug-in hybrid large SUV before the end of the year, alongside the 7GT fully-electric performance wagon.In 2027, the much-hyped 8X large five-seat hybrid SUV will arrive, with Geely also plotting a yet-to-be confirmed three-row hybrid SUV offering.

China’s car industry may already have peaked, according to the boss of one of its biggest brands.Nio Chief Executive Officer William Li said the Chinese auto industry has moved past its “golden era”, according to Reuters.Electric vehicle sales in the country slumped 38 per cent in April, to a still astounding 443,000, which is the fourth straight month of sales declined in the world’s largest EV market.This is because of several issues.Li said car ownership in China had hit 370 million, which means it is no longer a growth market and instead the domestic market is considered “saturated”.Nio is known for its battery swap technology, but only has a small foothold outside of China, and is more at risk than others to poor domestic performance.Subsidies for EVs have also been reduced and a weak domestic economy are also to blame, according to Autonews.For BYD and Geely, two of China’s largest carmakers, net profit dropped by more than US$600m (A$840m).Tough home market conditions are likely to benefit global markets as Chinese brands push more models aggressively to boost total sales and keep factories in China humming. This could result in lower prices and more appealing vehicles sooner.Another benefit to markets of stagnating sales growth in China is the introduction of more widespread fast charging technology.Charging is the new battleground for electric car dollars in China.“Slow charging speeds, poor charging performance at low temperatures and anxiety about energy replenishment have remained the final hurdles in popularising electrified vehicles,” said BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu earlier this year.The company has begun rolling out its Flash charging network in China, which is capable of delivering speeds of up to 1500kW.BYD will have similar charging stations in Australia later this year.BYD is also rolling out vehicles capable of using these ultra fast chargers, though only the Denza Z9 electric sports car will be able to use their full capabilities in Oz this year.Solid state batteries are also destined to be another advanced selling point for electric cars in the next few years.Multiple Chinese brands are working on fitting the advanced power packs to their vehicles. These solid state cells are the holy grail of electric car batteries because they are more energy dense, which allows them to store more energy in smaller batteries. This will make electric 4WDs, utes and sports cars a reality by making EVs lighter. The batteries are also less prone to fire.

Geely is the Chinese powerhouse behind Polestar, Volvo and Zeekr, but its own brand is on track to be bigger than them all.The Chinese brand launched in Australia at the start of 2025, but it hasn’t gone on a model explosion like BYD or Chery, instead it is slowly building out its line-up Down Under.First came the all-electric EX5 mid-size SUV and next the related Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid SUV we are testing here. Both are selling well.The Starray range is simple, with just two variants.First is the Starray Complete starting at $37,490 (before on-road costs) and next is the fully loaded Starray Inspire priced from $39,990. We are living with the latter for three months.That is a sharp price that undercuts the rival 2026 BYD Sealion 6, which starts at $42,990 and rises to $52,990, and is more on par with the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid.The Starray is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder non-turbo petrol engine paired to an electric motor, which combine for 193kW.A hybrid transmission sends power to the front wheels, there is no all-wheel drive option.This is matched to a circa-18kWh Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) battery that delivers a driving range of up to 83km.That driving range misses the mark against some of its rivals, but luckily Geely is rolling out an update to the Inspire grade this year that will feature a bigger battery capable of delivering a range of up to 136km.Geely claims its current setup uses just 2.4-litres of fuel per 100km, which is excellent but it also requires pricier premium unleaded petrol.You won't get near this figure unless you are very militant about charging the car so it always has a decent amount of energy to allow for electric-only driving for most trips. I've relied mostly on hybrid driving during my stint and I'm averaging double the claimed figure.The Starray can be driven in three modes: Pure (electric-only), Hybrid (petrol-electric) and Power (petrol-only).If driving in Power mode expect fuel use to be much more than the claimed figure. The battery can accept a max DC charge rate of 30kW and can suck up to 6.6kW of juice via an AC connection.It also has a vehicle-to-load function, which means it can power appliances and other items, but you’ll need to buy an adapter to plug into the car’s charging port.One of the Starray’s big selling points is it is packed full of equipment.Outside the Starray Inspire has LED head and tail-lights, auto-folding side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, roof rails and 19-inch alloy wheels.Inside some of the highlights are a big 15.4-inch central display paired with a 10.2-inch digital driver’s screen. A 13.8-inch head-up display projects vital information such as travelling speed and prevailing speed limit onto the windscreen in front of the driver.It has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in-built sat nav, digital radio, wireless device charging and USB-A and -C charging ports throughout.The Inspire grade ditches the basic six-speaker stereo for a 16-speaker stereo from Chinese tech company Meizu, which is owned by Geely.The Starray also runs Meizu’s Flyme operating system for its multimedia.Customers can expect power-adjustable front seats wrapped in synthetic leather and with heating and ventilation functions. The driver’s seat also has a memory function.A giant panoramic sunroof is exclusive to the Inspire grade as is the power tailgate.Boot space is decent at 428 litres and can be expanded to 528L by removing the floor.There is no spare tyre, with owners forced to make do with a fiddly tyre repair kit.Geely ticks all the safety boxes with a wide range of active driver aids and seven airbags covering both rows.The Starray was given a five-star safety score last year with good scores for adult and child occupant protection during crash tests.Paint colour is the only optional extra, with anything but white costing $600. Our test car is finished in a handsome metallic jungle green.Geely covers its cars with a seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, and the battery is covered for eight years/unlimited km.The Starray is covered by a five-year capped-price servicing program that requires workshop visits every 12 months or 15,000km. It’ll cost almost $2000 over that time, with buyers to be aware of the $691 fourth service price. Next instalment we’ll cover how practical the Starray is in the real world and report back on fuel use figures, EV-only driving range and how it works for a family of four.2026 Geely Starray EM-i InspireAcquired: March, 2026Distance travelled this month: 436kmOdometer: 2776kmAverage fuel this month: 4.8-litres per 100km