Even more models expected from Geely

THE scope of Geely’s Australian product rollout strategy could be even larger than initially anticipated, with the brand’s local director of product planning and marketing Andrew Tuitahi teasing the arrival of further models beyond the original six expected before the end of 2027.

Geely launched in Australia in its current form in March of 2025, following a brief sales period in Western Australia under the stewardship of John Hughes.

Since then, the brand has launched three models locally – the EX5 electric and Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid mid-size SUV pair and the EX2 electric hatchback – with the Emgrand L EM-i PHEV sedan, Monjaro EM-i PHEV SUV and the Battleship 700 plug-in hybrid off-roader arriving next year, all three of which were recently previewed at the Everything Electric show in Sydney.

When asked by Australian media at the local launch of the Geely Starray EM-i All-Wheel Drive if the pace of the brand’s product launches was a good thing for consumers, Mr Tuitahi described Geely’s “curated” model rollout pace.

“It's a curated pace. If you look at the global (web) page or the Chinese domestic market page, there's a whole lot more product that's been launched over that same period,” he said.

“We're prioritising, we're making sure that each product has space in the market. That gives dealers time to learn about (the) cars, salespeople (time) to really learn how to sell those cars, and it gives all of us the time to do all the work to support bringing cars to market over their service parts and so on.”

“That said, the cars that we've got in market now have gone through a few iterations, but we are still only selling three total models, and I think we've proven at least to ourselves that having that number of cars in market is a good, sustainable way to launch cars, and we've been able to crack the top 10 with just just three, so that's working.”

Geely has previously detailed to GoAuto a six-model launch offensive by the end of 2027 in September of last year, but Mr Tuitahi detailed a more extensive product onslaught.

“In terms of the continued rollout, we've got five or six cars over the next 12 months. Can probably throw a few more in if we extend that out to 18 months.”

“But again, we're trying to make sure that they've got good breathing room, and we've all got the capacity, along with our network, in terms of size and capacity at each dealer to learn what those cars are and effectively sell them.”

According to Mr Tuitahi, “a couple of cars” will arrive in between the launch of the Monjaro EM-i and the Emgrand L EM-i in the first half of 2027 and the Battleship 700 in the second half of next year.

In any case, the Battleship 700 – along with other products in the pipeline – is expected to aid in Geely’s rural and provincial dealership network expansion.

Geely’s Australian dealer count recently passed the century mark – a number that’s grown from 22 from launch – with imminent plans in place to grow its national network to 130 dealerships.

“...the target is for the next three to six months to stretch (the network) out to about 130 dealers. Based on the way we've been going and the dealer partners we've been talking to, I think that will be closer to three than six. When it comes to rural, provincial, I think that will come with time. Certainly, as we introduce products that are more suited to those markets,” Mr Tuitahi said.

“There are a few in the long-term roadmap. I can't confirm exactly what they are today. You would have seen one at Everything Electric that I think could be a good starting point that wore the nameplate Battleship. That name could change for Australia, but at least what you would have seen presented at Everything Electric was Battleship.”

This mirrors a similar stance expressed by fellow Chinese brand GAC earlier in the year. Back in March, local executives from the brand revealed to GoAuto that the introduction of SUV and ute models would correspond with the rural and provincial expansion of its Australia dealer network.

When asked what segments Geely isn’t covering in Australia that new products could compete in, Mr Tuitahi pointed to small SUVs, larger SUVs and utes.

“...from our perspective, medium SUVs, so larger SUVs than Starray and EX5. There's definitely volume opportunity there. That's taken care of with Monjaro. Pick-up truck is a big gap, and again, can't speak to that right now.”

“Outside of that. It's a few kind of equal-sized segments. We've got a small SUV, something similar size to a Corolla Cross or a Kona. That's an opportunity for us. And then, of course, larger SUVs, things similar to a Toyota Kluger or a Hyundai Santa Fe or something similar to a Prado, which our Battleship 700 is.”

As previously reported by GoAuto, the Galaxy M9 seems a likely contender for the brand’s three-row SUV contender in the Australian market.

Displayed at the Melbourne Motor Show earlier this year, the Galaxy M9 is currently sold overseas with seating for six and a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged plug-in hybrid powertrain with either a 18.4kWh or a 41.46kWh battery and available in two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive guises.

As for a Corolla Cross and Kona-sized rival, a few models within Geely’s broader portfolio could fit the brief based on their dimensions: the Icon and the closely-related Cowboy, and the Coolray.

As for a potential ute model, GoAuto has previously reported on the development of a new electrified ute offering from Geely sub-brand Riddara featuring either a high-power four-cylinder or a twin-turbo V6 to rival the likes of the BYD Shark 6 and Ford Ranger Hybrid.

MPVs are another segment that has attracted attention from Chinese marques in Australia in recent times, with BYD and Denza, GAC, and Geely subsidiary Zeekr, having launched people mover models locally.

When asked if MPVs were on the cards for Geely locally, Mr Tuitahi told Australian that there was “Nothing we can confirm today” but when asked if it was something the brand was looking at he said Geely is “looking at everything.”

Should Geely choose to launch an MPV locally, the Galaxy V900 could be a candidate, which features a dual-motor range extender powertrain.

However, no future models beyond Geely’s incoming plug-in hybrid trio have been officially confirmed for an Australian launch.