Geely has officially entered the UK market as a standalone brand with the start of sales for its first model.

The fast-growing Chinese carmaker is part of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group – which also owns or has strategic stakes in Volvo Cars, Polestar, Lotus, Smart, Proton and Zeekr – and has big plans for over here under its new Geely Auto UK national sales company.

Its inaugural model – the EX5 all-electric SUV – is now officially on sale following a ‘soft launch’. Priced from £31,990 – reduced under the brand’s ‘Geely EV Grant’ until the end of 2025 – the C-segment SUV undercuts rivals such as the Škoda Enyaq, Kia EV6 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

The five-seat, “family-focused” compact SUV combines “cutting-edge technology, generous space, advanced safety and strong design”.

It’s available with a 60.2kWh battery pack using the brand’s ‘short blade’ technology and delivering up to 267 miles of WLTP range along with 160kW DC fast charging that gives 30-80% in 20 minutes. It also has up to 218hp of power and 320Nm of torque on tap, giving a 0-62mph time of under seven seconds. Standard features include a heat pump, active grille vanes and driver-selectable regenerative braking. The EX5 also gets an eight-year/125,000-mile warranty applicable to both vehicle and battery.

Three trims – SE, Pro and Max – are available. Standard equipment includes heated and ventilated front massage seats, Geely Auto’s Fly-Me 16-speaker audio system, a 15.4-inch 2.5k central touchscreen, a 10.2-inch driver display and a head-up display.

To further incentivise customers, Geely Auto UK is also offering its own EV Grant until the end of 2025, providing up to the same level of funding as the Government’s Electric Car Grant depending on trim. The EX5 SE gets a £2,300 reduction, the EX5 Pro is cut by £3,200 and the top-spec EX5 Max drops by £3,750 with the grant.

The EX5 has already secured 1,000 expressions of interest and almost 100 customer reservations ahead of the official launch – and Michael Yang, general manager of Geely Auto UK, said the response has been hugely positive.

“We have strong ambitions for the UK market and over the next three years, we’ll introduce around 10 new models, expanding across multiple segments to deliver technologically focused, safe, smart and attainable electric mobility,” he added.

“Geely Auto has come to the UK not just to sell cars, but to provide superior new energy mobility solutions. Our goal is to address user pain points with a comprehensive NEV ownership ecosystem, making purchasing effortless and usage enjoyable, thereby accelerating the adoption of new energy vehicles.”

Geely Auto UK hits the ground running with 25 franchised dealer showrooms operational from launch, with another 25 planned before the end of the year and 100 by the end of 2026, ensuring nationwide coverage as demand grows.

As part of the launch, Geely Auto UK has partnered with Andersen EV to provide every EX5 customer with a reduced-cost home wallbox. Alternatively, customers can opt for £500 of public charging credit through Octopus Electroverse, giving access to more than one million charge points across the UK and Europe.

Geely has also teamed up with Octopus Energy for charging and tariff support for home and public use, while deals with Green Flag for 24/7 roadside assistance and Cord Power Technologies for home charging solutions are being inked.

Finance and leasing are supported by CA Auto Finance UK in an exclusive deal that includes flexible personal contract purchase, hire purchase and an advance payment plan for retail customers. For leasing, CA Auto also provide personal contract hire and business contract hire.

Commenting on the tie-up with Geely, Alex Hughes, managing director at CA Auto Finance UK, said: “They are a huge force in the Chinese market, and we’re excited to be playing a role in bringing this innovative new brand to the UK market. As the appetite for EVs continues to accelerate, this partnership highlights CA Auto Finance’s commitment to providing drivers with greater variety and access to sustainable, cutting-edge mobility solutions.”