Chinese automaker Geely has expanded the European footprint of its core brand with the launch of new models in Italy, adding momentum to a broader international expansion spanning Europe, Oceania and other overseas markets.
The Italian rollout includes two sport utility vehicles: the battery-electric Geely EX5 and the Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid. The EX5 offers a driving range of up to 425 kilometres, while the Starray EM-i delivers around 90 kilometres of pure electric driving and a combined range of nearly 1,000 kilometres under WLTP standards. The models are being introduced in partnership with Jameel Motors, a Saudi Arabian company that also distributes Geely’s Farizon commercial vehicles in the UK.
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Geely has long operated in Europe through brands including Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and the Smart joint venture with Mercedes-Benz. However, the direct expansion of the Geely-branded passenger car business only began this summer with launches in Greece, the United Kingdom and several Balkan markets including Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Montenegro.
“Geely Auto’s arrival in Italy is far more than a commercial debut: it marks the beginning of a new cultural and technological journey,” said Marco Santucci, chief executive of Geely Italia. “We believe in a mobility that combines quality, safety, beauty, and innovation, in line with Italy’s great design tradition.”
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Brett Soso, regional director of Geely Auto Europe, said the Italian launch reflects the company’s wider ambitions across the region. “We are honored to enter Italy — a country where our values feel naturally aligned,” he said. “Geely Auto’s arrival in Italy is more than a brand launch; it is a statement of belief that mobility can be smarter, greener, safer, and more human-centric.”
The Geely EX5, marketed in China as the Galaxy E5 since 2024, is the brand’s first global model and is built on Geely’s Global Intelligent Electric Architecture (GEA). The model is also sold in Brazil through a partnership with Renault. Geely recently introduced the smaller EX2 electric compact car in Brazil and expects that model to reach five continents within the next 12 months.
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Beyond Europe, Geely’s overseas push has accelerated this year. In March, the company launched the EX5 in Australia and New Zealand, marking its formal entry into the Oceania market. The unveiling took place at Sydney’s Luna Park, where Geely also introduced its international user brand, Geely Go.
By the end of 2024, Geely plans to expand into the UK, Brazil and South Africa, adding more than 300 new sales and service outlets and bringing its total international network to over 1,100 locations, according to Jerry Gan, chief executive of Geely Auto Group.