In the month since Chinese automotive giant Geely officially launched its electric EX5 SUV in Australia, over 600 orders were made, 188 of which were already been delivered to customers by month’s end, the company says.
The first batch of EX5s landed in Australia in mid-February, at which point The Driven’s Riz Akhtar got to take the EX5 for a spin, describing it as “a well-engineered and tech-focused family SUV, prioritising comfort, practicality and efficiency.”
Geely announced in early March that the EX5 would go on sale starting at $40,990 for the entry-level Complete variant, while a top-of-the-line Inspire variant started at $44,990, both before on-road costs.
That aggressive pricing obviously struck a chord with Australians, with over 600 orders for the EX5 placed since Geely announced pricing and opened orders. In fact, the first of 188 EX5s to already be delivered to customers was sold and delivered in Victoria within the first 24 hours of the price announcement at launch.
At that rate, that would put the EX5 as the third best selling EV in Australia, behind the Model Y and Model 3. See The Driven’s month by month sales data for more details.
The rollout of the EX5 was backed by Geely’s rapid rollout of operations in Australia, including the announcements of its initial network of 22 dealerships across the country and its local logistics and transport provider.
Since those announcements, Geely now boasts a network of suppliers, 24 dealers, and a local operations team.
Matching Geely’s combative pricing for the EX5 was an offer on orders placed and delivered before April 30 which included one-year complimentary public charging and a free 7kW home charger, a 3.88 per cent comparison rate on finance, three years of complimentary scheduled servicing, and an upgrade to premium paint options.
“We are glad that the initial feedback has been extremely positive,” said Lei Li, CEO of Geely Auto Australia.
“Introducing a new brand to a unique market like Australia requires more than just bringing a great car to the market; there is a lot of work that goes with that to ensure we have the right structure and offerings to exceed customers’ expectations.
“Geely’s commitment to exceptional quality and speed of operating shows in these successful and prompt deliveries of the Geely EX5 to our first local customers.”
Those who haven’t yet had a chance to explore the Geely EX5 can get a closer look at the company’s local website or visit one of the company’s dealerships located across Australia (listed here).
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.