Geely’s Rapid Australian Expansion Puts Pressure on Established SUV Brands

1791345950561

Chinese automotive manufacturer Geely has reached 100 dealerships in Australia, approximately 18 months after launching nationally with just 22 outlets.

The network expansion comes as the brand records strong sales growth, with 4,473 new vehicles delivered in September 2026, placing Geely among Australia’s ten highest-selling automotive brands for the month.

Its EX5 electric SUV and Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid have also recorded sales volumes that place them alongside some of Australia’s longest-established medium-SUV models.

The figures highlight how quickly Geely has expanded its presence in the Australian market since its March 2025 launch.

From 22 dealerships to 100

Geely entered the Australian market in March 2025 with the EX5 electric SUV and an initial network of 22 dealerships.

The company subsequently expanded its retail and service presence across the country, reaching its 100th dealership with the opening of a location in Mandurah, Western Australia.

The milestone represents an increase of 78 dealerships in approximately 18 months.

A national dealership network provides more than vehicle sales facilities. It also supports servicing, warranty repairs, parts availability and customer relationships.

Geely’s expansion has therefore involved both increased vehicle deliveries and the development of the infrastructure needed to support those vehicles after purchase.

September sales place Geely in Australia’s top ten

According to September 2026 VFACTS figures, Geely recorded 4,473 new-vehicle deliveries, compared with 461 in September 2025.

That represents year-on-year growth of approximately 870%.

The result placed Geely tenth in the Australian new-vehicle market for the month, ahead of Chery’s 4,205 deliveries and close to MG’s 4,635.

Geely’s September sales were spread across three models:

ModelSeptember 2026 deliveries
Geely EX5 electric SUV2,008
Geely Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid SUV1,254
Geely EX2 electric hatchback1,211
Total4,473

The EX5 remained Geely’s highest-selling model, but both the Starray EM-i and EX2 exceeded 1,200 deliveries.

That distribution is notable for a manufacturer with a relatively small Australian model range.

Established medium SUVs face increasing competition

The medium-SUV segment has traditionally been dominated by established models including the Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson, Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan X-Trail.

September 2026 sales figures showed Geely’s EX5 recording higher monthly deliveries than each of those models individually.

Medium SUVSeptember 2025September 2026Change
Geely EX52792,008+619.7%
Mazda CX-51,7251,435−16.8%
Hyundai Tucson1,5881,407−11.4%
Mitsubishi Outlander1,7851,264−29.2%
Nissan X-Trail1,403999−28.8%

The figures show that Geely’s EX5 grew substantially while several established competitors recorded lower deliveries than in the corresponding month a year earlier.

However, these comparisons do not establish that customers moved directly from those models to Geely.

Individual vehicle sales can be influenced by availability, model changes, fleet activity, promotional campaigns and other factors.

The broader medium-SUV market was also growing during September, demonstrating that changes in individual model performance occurred within an expanding segment.

Electric and plug-in hybrid sales continue to grow

Geely’s Australian range is concentrated on electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

The EX5 and EX2 are battery-electric models, while the Starray EM-i uses a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

This places Geely in two areas of the Australian new-vehicle market that recorded substantial growth during September.

According to industry sales reporting, battery-electric vehicles accounted for 24.2% of new-vehicle sales during the month, compared with 11.3% in September 2025.

Plug-in hybrid sales increased by 122.7% compared with the same month a year earlier.

These figures provide context for Geely’s performance, although they do not establish how much of its growth was attributable to broader changes in powertrain demand.

The company has also entered the market at a time when Australian buyers have access to a growing number of electric and plug-in hybrid models from both established and newer manufacturers.

Geely’s position among Chinese automotive brands

Geely’s growth forms part of a broader expansion of Chinese automotive manufacturers in Australia.

In September 2026, BYD recorded 8,191 deliveries, GWM recorded 5,212, MG recorded 4,635, Geely recorded 4,473 and Chery recorded 4,205.

All five appeared among the ten highest-selling brands in the VFACTS rankings for the month.

Geely’s result is particularly notable because of the relatively short period since its national launch.

The company has developed a 100-dealership network and established three models with significant monthly sales volumes in approximately 18 months.

Further models planned for Australia

Geely has confirmed plans to expand its Australian model range.

Future additions announced for the local market include the Emgrand sedan, Monjaro SUV and Battleship 700 SUV.

These vehicles would extend Geely’s presence beyond the segments currently served by the EX5, Starray EM-i and EX2.

The timing, availability and eventual sales performance of additional models will determine how the expanded range contributes to the brand’s Australian operations.

A rapidly expanding Australian operation

Geely’s first 18 months in Australia have been marked by significant growth in dealership coverage and vehicle deliveries.

The manufacturer has moved from an initial 22-dealership launch network to 100 locations, while its September 2026 result placed it among Australia’s ten highest-selling brands.

Its EX5 has also become a significant competitor in the medium-SUV segment, recording more September deliveries than several established nameplates.

The next stage of Geely’s Australian development will include supporting its larger vehicle fleet, operating its expanded dealership network and introducing further models.

For now, the September sales figures and dealership milestone demonstrate the scale of the company’s growth since entering the Australian market.

Sources: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, September 2026 VFACTS; Geely Australia dealership announcements; WhichCar, 6 October 2026.

Share this blog

Create an email alert

Have alerts sent straight to your inbox and never miss out on an opportunity.

By subscribing you agree to AUTOrecruits Privacy terms.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.