Chinese carmaker Geely, which once sold vehicles in South Africa over a decade ago, looks like it’s preparing another foray into our market.
Records from the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) show that parent company Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGHG) filed a trademark application for the “Geely” brand name in South Africa on 30 January 2024.
Further adding to the evidence that the nameplate could make a comeback is the fact that ZGHG lodged another trademark application on 18 April for the “Geely E5”, a new battery-electric crossover that is being built specifically for export from China to global markets, including right-hand-drive countries.
Geely Galaxy E5
While the first application to the CIPC may just have been to safeguard its naming rights should it decide to open up shop in South Africa once again in the future, the second one indicates a strong possibility that Geely is planning to make its return sooner rather than later.
It already has a loose presence on our roads as it partly owns Volvo, Proton, and Lotus – the latter two of which re-entered South Africa in 2022 and 2023, respectively, while the former has seen its market share grow significantly since the Covid-19 pandemic.
A horde of other manufacturers from China, such as Chery and GWM, have also enjoyed great success since Geely left over a decade ago.
ZGHG may therefore have seen potential in South Africa once again and decided to bring back its headlining brand for one last stab at the local market.
What to expect
The Geely E5, also known as the Geely Galaxy E5, is the first vehicle produced by Geely subsidiary Galaxy for both left- and right-hand-drive markets outside of China.
Currently in its final stages of development, the SUV is expected to start shipments as early as August 2024, according to Chinese reports.
Whereas Proton, Lotus, and Volvo are cornering the internal-combustion-engine (ICE) segment at various price brackets, the E5 looks to be aimed at the new-energy vehicle (NEV) sector as it will only be produced in fully-electric guise, making its main competitors models like the BYD Atto 3 and Volvo EX30.
It is equipped with Geely’s proprietary “11-in-1 intelligent electric drive system” which sees 11 major components such as the e-motors, controllers, and reducers integrated into one housing with a total weight of just 79.8kg.
On that note, the E5 boasts 160kW of output ensuring a 0-100km/h time of 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 180km/h.
Under the floorboards, it either comes with a 49.52kWh or 60.22kWh battery pack, which enables driving ranges of 440km or 530km, respectively, measured using the usually generous CLTC standard.
The electric crossover additionally features a four-speed intelligent energy recovery system that adjusts engine braking force to the situation at hand based on the distance between vehicles, traffic, and slope information, resulting in a smoother driving experience.
The cabin of the E5 strikes a similar aesthetic to other new-age luxury Chinese vehicles with a minimalistic front fascia and a pair of large displays.
The driver’s digital instrument cluster measures 10.2 inches and the central infotainment hub a considerable 15.4 inches.
More luxuries comprise heated and ventilated front seats with massaging functions, a heads-up display, wireless smartphone chargers, a 16-speaker stereo, and an array of advanced driver assistance systems.
At 4,615mm long, 1,901mm wide, and 1,670mm tall, the Geely’s proportions are similar to other popular SUVs like the BMW X3.
Join the discussion