GEELY Auto Group which has brands such as Lotus and Volvo in its line up, has announced its upcoming entry to the UK market with the debut of its latest model, the Geely EX5 - an electric SUV.

Geely Auto is developing a UK distributor to introduce passenger car operations to the UK market.

Geely Auto UK, the first distributor in Europe, marks another significant milestone in Geely Auto's global expansion, continuing Geely's channel development and product rollout across five continents.

This move signals a new, advanced phase in the company's globalisation strategy.

This new distributor will effectively integrate local dealers, suppliers and strategic partners as Geely Auto remains committed to its "one country, one policy" strategy - a customised approach to local market demands while maintaining precise measures to ensure efficient operations across more than 80 countries and regions globally.

Geely Auto's globalisation plan, encapsulated in its ‘Five by Five' strategy, focuses on expanding its presence through five global design centers, R&D centres, testing clusters, powertrain pathways and AI ecosystems to drive innovation and sustainable mobility.

The company aims to strengthen its market share in over 80 countries, backed by a 53 per cent increase in exports in 2024.

In 2024, Geely Auto achieved a record-breaking cumulative sales volume of 2,176,567 vehicles, reflecting a robust 34 per cent year-on-year increase.

The marque also made cumulative overseas export sales of 414,522 units in 2024, an increase of over 57 per cent year-on-year, exceeding the annual export target of 380,000 units of which Geely Auto had export sales of 381,548 units, an increase of 53 per cent year-on-year.

Looking ahead in 2025, Geely Auto will enhance its channel and aftersales coverage by adding more than 300 overseas sales and service outlets and is expected to have more than 1,100 outlets worldwide by the end of year, with the UK market being one of the key regions for the marque's globalisation plans.

As a global model, the Geely EX5 is available in both left-hand and right-hand drive versions, meeting the regulatory requirements of 89 countries, including the UK.

The introduction to market of the Geely EX5, an all-electric medium segment SUV, will be led by Geely Auto UK over the course of 2025. This move begins Geely Auto's commitment to delivering a diverse range of high-quality, accessible vehicles tailored for the UK.

Initial UK versions of the Geely EX5 have not only undergone customer clinics, but are also undergoing intensive development work to ensure they meet the demands of the market.

Mike Yang, general manager at Geely Auto UK: "We know the Geely EX5 is a great product with several core features that will appeal to a British audience. That's why we chose it to be our first passenger car for sale in the UK. However, we're aware that UK customers have unique demands.

"For that reason, before we release the car for sale, we're working with the experts at Lotus Engineering to make sure we have a car that's in line with expectations. Lotus Engineering has a formidable track record along with some of the best R&D resources, so we're delighted to be working closely with them."

Geely Auto UK called upon Geely partner firm Lotus Engineering for the firm's expertise in chassis and dynamics assessment.

Lotus Engineering was commissioned for a comprehensive evaluation of the Geely EX5 and has undergone subjective and objective assessment by Lotus Engineering dynamics experts on roads, the Lotus test track and a multi-post rig.

The Geely EX5 has appeared at an industry event as preparations for the launch of Geely Auto UK continue and the car is scheduled to go on sale in the last quarter of 2025 with a price of around £35,000.