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Although neither model is yet confirmed for our market, Geely wants to know if Australians are interested in the two plug-in hybrids it is showing at this weekend's Melbourne motor show.
Geely has showcased two new plug-in hybrid models at the Melbourne motor show to gauge appetite for future additions to its Australian line-up.
The duo, a mid-size sedan dubbed the Emgrand EM-i and a large six-seat SUV branded M9, are available in the car maker’s home country of China already, albeit under different nameplates: Starshine 6 and Galaxy M9, respectively.
Ashur Varde, Product Manager for Geely Australia, told the media at the Show that the brand has the pair under consideration for our market, depending on how well they go down with punters.
“We want to gauge, from our attendees… the feeling about these cars,” he said.
“Neither of these is confirmed for our market yet. However, they're both under consideration, and this is why we brought them here, so it could inform our future product strategy.
“We want to figure out if customers, or attendees, are in the market for these body types.”
The Corolla-sized Emgrand is also sold overseas with a choice of two petrol engines; however, Varde said the proposed car for Australia has been given a heavy facelift with Geely’s EM-i (short for E-Motive intelligence) plug-in hybrid technology.
Both the Emgrand EM-i and M9 PHEVs use a 1.5-litre petrol engine, with the latter producing a massive 640kW from the engine and three electric motors combined.
Geely claims the Emgrand EM-i has a combined driving range of 1000km WLTP, and the M9, its flagship, can complete the 0-100km/h sprint in as little as 4.5 seconds.
Inside, the Emgrand features a 10.25-inch instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch infotainment screen, while the more luxurious M9 gets a 30-inch unit in the front, as well as a 17.3-inch touchscreen in the second row to “entertain the kids”.
Geely also used the Melbourne Motor Show to reveal its EX2 in Australia for the first time. The EX2, an electric hatch, is the brand’s best-selling model in China, having shifted 465,775 units in 2025.
It is due to arrive locally in the third quarter of this year (July to September), with the brand expecting it to gain a five-star ANCAP safety rating shortly after.
Pricing has not yet been revealed for the EX2, which will be Geely’s first rear-wheel-drive model in Australia, joining the EX5 and Starray EM-i SUVs already available.
A born-and-bred newshound, Kathryn has worked her way up through the ranks reporting for, and later editing, two renowned UK regional newspapers and websites, before moving on to join the digital newsdesk of one of the world’s most popular newspapers – The Sun. More recently, she’s done a short stint in PR in the not-for-profit sector, and led the news team at Wheels Media.
