Cut-price Chinese electric car Australian launch locked in: 2025 Geely EX5 approved for sale in Australia with eyes on Tesla Model Y, BYD Atto 3, Deepal S07 and XPeng G6

Geely is gearing up to launch its first electric car in Australia. 

The Chinese car making giant partly or fully owns marques including Lotus, Volvo, Smart, Polestar, Lynk & Co and Zeekr, but it is making its own entrance early next year. 

Geely’s first model will be the EX5, an electric mid-size SUV targeting not only the established Tesla Model Y and Hyundai Ioniq 5, but also the raft of new Chinese rivals such as the Deepal S07, XPeng G6 and incoming BYD Sealion 07.

Following Geely confirming a presence here, the EX5 has now been approved for sale by Australia’s Road Vehicle Regulator, giving us a clearer picture of what to expect. 

There are three variants complied all with a front-mounted 160kW/320Nm electric motor. One has a 103kg lighter kerb weight suggesting we will see the shorter ranger range 59.52kWh version of Geely's new generation lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery.

It achieved 440km driving range in the more lenient CLTC cycle, we’d expect around 380-400km in the WLTP. A larger, 530km CLTC (or about 450km) 60.22kWh battery pack also looks to be complied in two trim levels.

All have both 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels listed, matched to different suspension tunes. 

The Geely EX5 is based on the brand’s ‘GEA’ architecture, which is a lower cost derivative of the EV-only SEA platform as seen on the Zeekr X, EX30 and Smart #1, with one of the key differentiators being front- vs rear-biased drive. 

Technology is typically quite advanced with a huge 15.4-inch multimedia touchscreen, 10.2-inch digital driver’s display, customisable ambient lighting, glass roof, heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, LED exterior lights and head-up display all available in China-spec cars. 

The EX5’s should get from 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.9 seconds and onto a top speed of 180km/h. It measures 4615mm long, 1901mm wide, 1670mm tall and rides in a wheelbase of 2750mm, putting it at about the same size as a Kia EV5. 

And, although quite a lot larger than the BYD Atto 3, with its smaller LFP batteries it is likely the Geely EX5 will be positioned beneath the EV5 and Model Y. For the entry grade, it’s possible we could see an entry price below $50,000. All is yet to be confirmed. 

Like Chery, Geely has a past in Australia, though one that quickly came to an end around a decade ago. Come half one 2025 when the EX5 is anticipated to launch, it will hope to have a longer lasting presence this time around.