Geely EX5 silences the bing-bongs! Electric SUV’s OTA update addresses one of our key annoyances

February 6, 2026February 5, 2026 EV Central team 202 Views 0 Comments ex5, geely, Geely EX5 OTA update

The latest over-the-air software update for the Geely EX5 electric compact SUV introduces a simpler one-touch drop-down control that allows drivers to quickly disable a suite of driver assistance features some drivers have found intrusive in day-to-day driving.

The update also introduces Android Auto, which joins Apple CarPlay introduced via an August 2025 update.

Geely EX5s will receive the OTA update between February 4 and 9, adding several usability upgrades headlined by what the brand calls “Drive Setup” one-touch activation.

Accessible either via a steering-wheel shortcut button or a swipe-down menu on the central screen, the new function allows drivers to instantly recall a preferred driving profile that can include switching off systems such as lane keeping assist, emergency lane keeping assistance, driver fatigue detection and speed limit alerts.

The change directly addresses a frustration increasingly common in modern vehicles, where safety and driver monitoring features default to ‘on’ at every start-up to comply with regulations, requiring drivers to dive through multiple menus to silence alerts before every trip.

It is an issue previously highlighted by EV Central in its first drive impressions of the EX5.

Reviewer Andrew Chesterton wrote: “Where they’ve failed, though, is in the tuning of the mind-bending safety systems. The Driver Attention monitor is so hopped-up on red cordial you dare not blink lest it starts bonging at you, and the overspeed warning will squawk at you should you exceed the speed limit by the tiniest amount. And then there are the warnings I couldn’t even figure out, but just felt like random bing-bonging for the sake of it.”

The new menu also allows drivers to pre-select drive mode (Eco, Comfort or Sport) and regenerative braking strength (Low, Medium, High or Auto), meaning the car can be returned to a preferred configuration almost instantly after start-up.

The update introduces both wired and wireless Android Auto connectivity to the EX5’s infotainment system, meaning the model now supports both major smartphone mirroring platforms.

The swipe-down shortcut menu has also been expanded to include tailgate control, and confirmation sounds have been added when switching drive modes.

Owners can also now choose between three different artificial low-speed warning sounds for the Acoustic Vehicle Alert System: Classic, Galactic and Constellation.

Geely says the update can be downloaded and installed at home via Wi-Fi without the need to visit a service centre, with instructions provided through its connected services portal.

The brand says the changes are based on owner feedback from global markets, and indicated that similar OTA functionality is on the way for the Starray EM-i PHEV SUV due later in the first quarter.

Priced from $40,990 plus on-road costs, the EX5 has been on-sale in Australia since March 2025. The Starry EM-i went on-sale last September and is priced from $37,490 plus on-road costs.