New Chinese hatchback expected in South Africa any day now

The all-new, fully-electric Geely EX2 is expected in South Africa any day now, with the Chinese automaker teasing its imminent launch on social media.

A source in the local vehicle retail industry confirmed to our sister publication, MyBroadband, that the EX2 will go on sale later this month.

The source explained that sales principals at Geely dealerships will be briefed on the model as well as its local positioning today, 8 April.

It was also confirmed that Geely will continue to use its simplified naming convention, which it introduced in South Africa when it dropped the ‘X’ in the EX5 electric and plug-in hybrid models, renaming the EX2 to E2.

The E2, known as the Galaxy Geome Xingyuan in China, is a five-door, five-seat hatchback that sells for 68,800 Chinese yuan (R168,535).

With 465,775 units sold in 2025, it was also China’s best-selling car last year, outselling another electric vehicle (EV), the Hongguan Mini EV, by around 30,000 units.

Its price makes the E2 slightly more expensive than its rival, BYD’s most affordable car – the Seagull, or Dolphin Surf in South Africa.

That being said, the E2 is better compared to the standard BYD Dolphin thanks to its size and features.

Built on Geely’s GEA platform, the E2 is 4,135mm long, 1,805mm wide, and stands 1,580mm high, and boasts a 2,650mm wheelbase.

The entry-level model built in China features a 58kW electric motor with a 30.12kWh lithium-ferro-phosphate (LFP) battery, allowing for an estimated WLTP range up to 254km, or 310km CLTC range.

A longer-range Chinese variant sees its battery upgraded to 40.16kWh, which enables an estimated WLTP range of 333km.

What can be expected in South Africa

As a right-hand-drive market, South Africa will likely receive models built in Thailand or Indonesia rather than in China.

This could even be to local buyers’ benefit, as the E2 models built in these markets feature a more powerful 85kW motor and 150Nm of torque.

Thai-built models are fitted with a 39.4kWh LFP battery, while the Indonesian model features a slightly bigger 40.8kWh battery.

According to Geely, both are capable of an official NEDC range of 395km, or 336km by WLTP standards.

The E2’s battery can be recharged at up to 70kW using a fast direct current (DC) charger, which enables a 30% to 80% recharge in only 25 minutes.

Using slower alternating current (AC) charging, its maximum recharging speed is 7kW, needing around 6.5 hours to recharge from 10% to 100%.

Entry-level Indonesian and Thai models feature a 14.6-inch touch infotainment display, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, and a minimum of four airbags.

All models are fitted with all-LED automatic headlights, a rearview camera, perforated leatherette seats, and a 70-litre front trunk, and are capable of vehicle-to-load (V2L).

Certain features may only be available on higher-end models and in some markets, including 6-inch aluminium alloy rims instead of 15-inch steel rims and a 540-degree panoramic camera.

Other potentially limited options include a 2-function advanced driver assistance system, electric seat adjustment, remote vehicle controls in a mobile app, side curtain airbags, and 256-colour ambient lighting.

Geely has not yet confirmed pricing or model configurations for the E2 in South Africa, whereas in Australia, it is expected to cost between AU$25,000 and AU$35,000 (R291,200 and R409,000).

That being said, Geely considers the E2 a competitor to the Dolphin Surf, which means its price may well come in under R400,000.