Geely - pronounced 'Gee-lee' - is an automotive company founded in 1986 by entrepreneur Li Shufu. The name 'Geely' translates as 'auspicious' or 'lucky'.

Where did Geely originate? In Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China. The company began making refrigerator components, moved into motorcycles in 1994, and built its first car in 1997. Today, the parent organisation - Zhejiang Geely Holding Group - is one of the world's most strategically significant automotive groups. Geely has spent 15 years investing in the UK's automotive industry, long before bringing its own models to market here.

In the Geely UK market, the Geely car brand made its consumer debut in October 2025 with the launch of the Geely EX5 EV, followed by the PHEV Geely Starray EM-i.

Geely Auto has ambitious growth plans for the UK, with a rapidly expanding network of sales and service outlets to support its customers; Vertu is proud to be among them.

The main Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely) HQ is found in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.

Where is Geely located in the UK? Vertu currently has three Geely car dealerships and showrooms in the UK.

• Geely Glasgow Central (Address: 144 Port Dundas Rd, Glasgow, G4 0HZ)
• Geely Glasgow South (Address: 900 Kennishead Road, Darnley, Glasgow, G53 7RA)
• Geely Kings Norton (Address: Kings Norton Business Park, Birmingham, B30 3ES)

Visit your nearest Geely dealership or book an appointment online.

Geely is privately owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH), controlled by its founder Li Shufu and his family. Geely Automobile Holdings - a publicly listed subsidiary on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2005 - holds controlling stakes in the main Geely auto group brands.

But the more interesting question for most UK drivers is: who does Geely own?

The Geely Holding Group has assembled one of the most remarkable brand portfolios in the automotive world. More than six brands with long-established heritage across the globe. Under the company's umbrella sit Volvo Cars, Polestar, Lotus, the Smart brand (a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz AG), and LEVC - the London Electric Vehicle Company, builder of the iconic TX black cab. Geely also holds a stake in Proton, the Malaysian manufacturer.

Together, these Geely brands span the market from premium Scandinavian saloons and electric performance cars to British sports cars and working taxis. For UK buyers, the Geely brand isn't a newcomer to Britain's roads - it's been here in spirit for years, simply under different names.

The depth of the Geely group's brand portfolio is what sets it apart from other newer automotive entrants to the UK market. Rather than arriving as an unknown quantity, Geely has spent nearly two decades acquiring and investing in some of the most trusted names in motoring.

The acquisition that put Geely on the global map was the purchase of Volvo Cars from Ford. When did Geely buy Volvo? The acquisition was completed in 2010. Far from diminishing Volvo's character, Geely's ownership allowed Volvo to invest heavily in electrification - a widely cited example of international acquisition done well.

When did Geely buy Lotus? The purchase was completed shortly after Volvo, in 2017, when Geely acquired a controlling stake and began a transformation of the Norfolk brand, adding electric SUVs alongside its famous sports cars. Polestar was spun out of Volvo's performance division that same year, 2017, to become a standalone electric vehicle brand.

Geely is a Chinese company, headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. It is one of China's largest private automotive groups, with more than ten manufacturing plants across mainland China.

The Geely cars sold in the Geely UK market - the Geely EX5 and the Geely Starray EM-i - are manufactured in China. Both models reflect a genuinely international development process, so the question 'where is Geely made?' cannot be answered simply. For context, the EX5 was styled at Geely's design centre in Milan, its chassis was tuned for UK roads by Lotus Engineering, and both models went through an extensive UK-market testing programme before launch.

But even the 'made in China' caveat isn't what it once was. Geely's manufacturing quality is validated by the same rigorous European standard applied to every car sold here: Euro NCAP. The Geely EX5 Pro model already carries a five-star rating (with other models to follow suit shortly), earned through independent crash testing in 2025 - the benchmark, regardless of where a car is built.

The Geely Starray EM-i uses what Geely calls a 'super hybrid' powertrain - a system engineered as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) from the ground up, rather than a conventional petrol car with a retrofitted battery.

The system offers three driver-selectable modes. Pure mode drives the car on electricity alone, producing zero tailpipe emissions whilst driving - ideal for urban commutes and short journeys. Hybrid mode blends both power sources automatically to maximise efficiency across mixed driving. Meanwhile, Power mode draws on both simultaneously, for stronger performance when it's most required.

At everyday speeds, the electric motor handles most of the workload, keeping the cabin near-silent. On longer journeys, the petrol engine works alongside the electric motor to extend your total range well beyond the battery alone - so distance is never a concern, even when charging isn't available.

Geely Starray EM-i PHEV 1.5-litre petrol - Key Specifications

The Ultra trim's 84-mile electric range makes the Starray EM-i one of the longest-range plug-in hybrid cars available in the UK at launch. For drivers who commute regularly and charge at home overnight, most daily journeys complete with zero tailpipe emissions whilst driving, with the petrol engine in reserve for longer trips where charging might be a challenge.

The Geely Starray EM-i hybrid supports home charging via a standard 7kW charge point (22kW and above during AC slow charging) as well as fast charging at compatible public rapid chargers. Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) and Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) capability come as standard across all trims, letting you power devices from the car's battery or share charge with another compatible vehicle.

For company car drivers, both models attract low Benefit-in-Kind rates: 3% for the fully electric EX5, and as low as 7% for the Starray EM-i Ultra - making them a compelling choice for business owners as well as private buyers.

For a full breakdown of the Starray EM-i's powertrain and trim options, visit our dedicated Geely Starray EM-i page.

It's a fair question for any newer brand. The honest answer is that Geely vehicles carry both the promise of a well-capitalised global group and, as yet, a limited long-term UK ownership track record. But there is solid evidence to point to.

The EX5 Pro carries a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, with more models to follow suit. All are built on Geely's purpose-designed Global Intelligent Electric Architecture (GEA) platform. The Geely EX5 is also the first model to feature Geely's Short Blade Battery technology - rigorously tested to meet global safety standards for resilience, longevity and fast charging.

The manufacturer backs the EX5 and Starray EM-i with its Geely Core warranty package:

• An eight-year / 125,000 miles vehicle warranty
• An eight-year / 125,000-mile battery warranty (unlimited mileage for the Starray EM-i)
• Four years' free roadside assistance
• Two years' included connected car services

That's a level of coverage that compares well with established European and Asian brands, giving meaningful, long-term reassurance beyond the purchase decision.

Geely's ownership of Volvo has accelerated knowledge-sharing across the group in safety architecture, platform engineering and quality processes. The Lotus-tuned chassis on the EX5 is a further example of the group's world-class engineering partnerships working in practice.

Vertu offers a full Geely servicing and maintenance programme, carried out by manufacturer-trained colleagues using genuine parts. Buying through a franchised dealer like Vertu means full manufacturer warranty cover and UK consumer rights from day one.