China’s Geely enlists star power for new electric brand

When a car company employs star power it usually means it’s called in an some sort of celebrity to spruik its latest new model.

But China’s Geely has instead turned to the stars for naming inspiration for its new electrified brand Milky Way.

Well, we think its Milky Way, it could be Galaxy. It all depends on how you interpret its Chinese name Yinhe. Geely will clarify on February 23 when the new brand is officially launched.

Ahead of that, Geely has teased two models, a battery electric sedan in January and a plug-in hybrid compact SUV this week.

The fastback BEV sedan reportedly measures up at 4900mm. It is understood to be based on a new electric structure separate from the SEA platform used by various Geely group BEVs including the Zeekr 001.

According to Chinese media reports, the SUV is to be called the L7 and is based on a platform called e-CMA, which is an update of the Compact Modular Architecture already used by Polestar 2 BEV, Volvo XC40 and C40 and various Lynk & Co and Geely models.

Geely is promising more new electrified models from Milky Way/Galaxy in the coming years as well as an expansion of new energy models across its portfolio.

Of course, we’re particularly interested in Geely’s model expansion because some of its brands already sell in Australia and more plan to.

Volvo and Polestar are currently on offer locally, while Lynk & Co is expected here by 2025.

The Geely auto brand (as opposed to the over-arching group) has also been shopping around for an Australian distribution partner, although it has announced no official launch plans as yet. Other Geely group brands include Radar, which recently started deliveries of its new RD6 ute in China, Lotus, taxi maker LEVC and more. It also has shares in smart and the Malaysian car-maker Proton.