Geely Auto has officially launched in the UK, with the brand using its debut event to pull the covers off its first British-market car, the new Geely EX5.
Geely is a new name on the grille, but not a new force in the industry. The company sits within the wider Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, which owns or has significant stakes in familiar brands including Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Smart, Proton and Zeekr. In other words, while Geely badges are new to UK roads, the engineering and experience behind them very much aren’t.
Low-key launch, big ambitions
The launch follows a quiet ‘soft launch’ phase that’s already seen Geely popping up in shopping centres and at automotive events, building awareness before formally opening order books. From day one, the brand is going straight into retail, with 25 dealer showrooms already signed up and trading, and another 25 planned before the end of the year. Names like Sytner, Stoneacre, Greenhous, Hendy and the John Clark Motor Group are all on board, with a longer-term goal of 100 UK sites by the end of 2026.
Geely is keen to stress that it’s not testing the water here. This is a full-fat launch, backed by sales, servicing and aftersales infrastructure from the outset.
Meet the Geely EX5
The first car to arrive is the EX5, a five-seat, fully electric compact SUV aimed squarely at families and everyday drivers rather than early adopters or tech obsessives. Prices start from £31,990 on the road for the SE model, putting it right into the thick of the mainstream electric SUV market.
In headline terms, the EX5 offers a range of up to 267 miles, 160kW DC rapid charging that can take the battery from 30–80% in around 20 minutes, and a standard-fit heat pump to help with cold-weather efficiency. There’s also active grille technology and adjustable regenerative braking, both aimed at squeezing a bit more real-world range out of daily driving.
Power comes from a 160kW (218hp) electric motor producing 320Nm of torque, enough for a sub-seven-second 0–62mph time.
It’s all wrapped up in a body that looks like the result of asking ChatGPT to design a completely unbranded SUV for Grand Theft Auto.
Rather more eye-catching is the spec sheet. Even away from the top trim levels, the EX5 gets heated and ventilated front seats with a massage function, a 16-speaker Fly-Me audio system, and no fewer than 33 storage spaces dotted around the cabin, including a clever drawer under the rear seat.
The dashboard is dominated by a 15.4-inch central touchscreen backed up by a 10.2-inch digital driver display and a head-up display that projects key information into the driver’s line of sight. Under the skin, the car’s digital architecture is powered by processor technology from Arm — the same outfit that probably provides the processing power in your smartphone.
Ownership sweeteners
Geely is leaning heavily on reassurance for buyers new to the brand. The EX5 comes with an eight-year or 125,000-mile warranty that covers both the vehicle and the battery, which is right up there with the strongest offers in the sector.
On top of that, Geely Auto UK is running its own ‘EV Grant’ until the end of 2025. As the car isn’t eligible for the UK’s Electric Car Grant, Geely is funding a discount applied directly to the list price, worth £2,300 on the EX5 SE, £3,200 on the Pro, and £3,750 on the range-topping Max.
Buyers can also choose between a discounted home wallbox supplied by Andersen EV or £500 of public charging credit through Octopus Electroverse, which gives access to more than a million charging points across the UK and Europe.
What’s next?
Geely plans to introduce around 10 new models in the UK over the next three years, starting with a plug-in hybrid SUV and a compact electric city car in 2026.
For now, though, the EX5 is the opening statement. It’s a deliberately mainstream electric SUV, keenly priced, heavily equipped and backed by a big-name global group. We’ll reserve judgment until we’ve driven one, but as first impressions go, Geely’s UK arrival feels well considered.
He is the founder of Huff Media, publisher of Professional Pickup, Professional Van, Average Janes, Average Joes, and CALIBRE. His work focuses primarily on light commercial vehicles, pickups, and real-world vehicle use, with much of his time spent on manufacturer launches, industry events, and long-term vehicle testing.