Another sub-$30K EV? Geely EX2 to take on BYD Atto 1 and MG4 from 2026 at budget end of the EV market

December 16, 2025December 16, 2025 Toby Hagon 950 Views 0 Comments EX2, geely

The Geely EX2 is heading to Australia in 2026 as yet another entrant at the affordable end of the EV market, with pricing likely to sneak below $30,000.

The diminutive all-electric hatchback will provide an entry-point to the expanding Geely line-up Down Under and add competition to the likes of the MG4 and BYD Atto 1, the latter currently the cheapest EV on the market.

Confirmed for local launch in the second half of 2026, the EX2 marks Geely’s first foray into the compact city-car segment here, in which competition is building.

While mid-sized electric SUVs continue to dominate in outright sales, it’s more affordable EVs that continue to place increasing pressure on petrol-powered alternatives and could help determine how quickly Australians shift towards electrification.

Geely EX2. — The Geely EX2 gets a 14.6-inch central screen as part of its tech-focused cabin.

Known as the Xingyuan – or Star Wish – in its home market, the EX2 arrives with some impressive credentials.

In 2025 it has regularly been the top selling vehicle in China and is on track to notch up 400,000 sales for the year.

As with so many new cars from China, there’s no shortage of tech inside, including a sizeable 14.6-inch central infotainment screen and a separate digital instrument cluster.

The EX2 is built on Geely’s Global Intelligent Electric Architecture, which also underpins the EX5.

However, while the EX5 uses a single motor to drive the front wheels, the EX2 packages its motor in the rear for rear-wheel drive.

Expect improvements to the driving experience as a result, while the EX2 also has a generous storage area (frunk) under the bonnet.

Measuring just over four metres long and 1.8 metres wide, the EX2 goes up against the MG4 and Atto 1 in terms of market positioning.

But it could also naturally tempt some out of hatchbacks that have populated the entry-level end of the market; we’re thinking options like the Toyota Yaris and Mazda2, which were once heavy hitters on the sales front but are smaller players these days, largely due to price increases.

Overseas, the EX2 is offered with a choice of battery sizes – 30.12kWh and 40.16kWh, each lithium ferrous phosphate (LFP) chemistry – providing modest outputs of 58kW/130Nm for the smaller battery and 85kW/150Nm for the bigger battery.

There are no details yet on which models are coming to Australia, with exact specifications to be finalised closer to launch.

As for how far the EX2 will travel on a charge, in China it’s claimed to get between 310km and 410km according to the optimistic CLTC test cycle.

Expect more like 260-330km when measured to the WLTP cycle used in Australia.

Of course, the key figure for the EX2 will be how much it costs, something Geely says it will confirm closer to launch.

When asked whether it could undercut the Atto 1 – which at $23,990 plus on-road costs is currently the cheapest EV in Australia – Geely Australia executives made it clear that was not a priority.

Clearly it will be priced well below the larger EX5, which kicks off at $40,990 before on-roads.