Look into Geely’s future
Geely Auto has taken centre stage at the Auto China 2026 to showcase new products and technologies. The brand unveiled its Galaxy Light 2nd Generation Concept and its first dedicated off-road new-energy vehicle architecture.
The marque’s i-HEV intelligent hybrid system was also highlighted in Beijing. And a full line-up of best-selling models were on display including the Galaxy M9, Galaxy V900, Xingyao (Starshine) 8, Xingyue L (Monjaro) i-HEV, Galaxy M7 and StarWish (EX5).
Making its global debut, the Galaxy Light, pictured, highlights the “elevation” of the brand’s looks in the era of intelligent electrification. Its second generation advances its “ripple aesthetics” design philosophy.
Guided by the vision of “Chinese design, global aesthetics”, the concept pushes “building intelligent, refined cars for everyone” to new levels of value.
The Galaxy Light’s overall stance captures the spirit of a “tiger raising its head”, while the cabin design places human-centric technology at the forefront to deliver a “premium luxury experience”.
Intelligent lighting simulates the shifting moods of the sky, from sunny to overcast, while multi-zone climate control mirrors seasonal transitions of warmth and cold. integration of “cutting-edge oxygen cabin" technology collectively creates a private environment that “engages every sense”.
Off-road architecture
Geely Auto unveiled the world’s first native new energy off-road vehicle architecture, pictured below, at the show. Empowered by its AI ecosystem, it features capabilities such as AI-driven intelligent torque distribution, intelligent all-terrain modes, one-touch intelligent vehicle recovery and AI-assisted active-body posture adjustment.
The high-efficiency layout of the battery, motor and electronic control unit minimises intrusion into the cabin, and maximises passenger and cargo space. Comprehensive safety for off-road driving is ensured through features such as a recessed battery design and six-layer protective structure at the battery’s base.
A 50-50 front-to-rear axle load distribution ensures balanced traction across all four wheels, resulting in sharper and more predictable handling. The design physically separates the fuel, electrical and cooling systems. This “eliminates” fire hazards associated with fluids and high-voltage components. There’s also ample space to accommodate larger battery packs and fuel tanks.
In terms of off-road performance, vehicles developed on the architecture come with high-power P3 motor at the front and dual independent P4 in-wheel motors at the rear. This configuration delivers a 0-100kph acceleration time in the four-second range.
The three-motor system works in tandem with the comprehensive sensing system to enable intelligent, AI-driven torque distribution to each wheel. The rear-differential lock can rapidly and intelligently engage the dual rear motors, allowing the car to extricate itself from complex off-road situations.
Intelligent hybrid technology
Geely’s i-HEV Intelligent Hybrid Technology integrates world-class powertrain systems with cutting-edge electric powertrain technology. i-HEV leverages five key advantages – “smarter, more energy-efficient, higher-performing, safer, and more reliable” – to deliver a “revolutionary” new AI-driven hybrid driving experience.
Empowered by the Full-Domain AI 2.0 ecosystem, the system is built on the GEEA 3.0 intelligent electronic and electrical architecture. It marks the debut application of the Xingrui AI Cloud Power 2.0 large-scale model and incorporates the latest advancements in AI digital chassis technology.
Thanks to the Joule Project energy-saving development system and other improvements, the engine achieves a thermal efficiency of 48.41 per cent, ranking first globally among mass-produced engines and offering a fuel consumption rate 12 per cent lower than the industry benchmark.
During real-world testing, the Emgrand i-HEV intelligent hybrid achieved fuel consumption of just 2.22l/100km to setting a new Guinness World Record.
In terms of performance, the Geely i-HEV intelligent hybrid system delivers a motor-power output of up to 230kW – 1.72 times that of other benchmark hybrid systems. It can operate in pure electric mode up to 66kph.
It incorporates patented power redundancy safety technology, the Aegis battery safety system, and other technologies to ensure vehicle safety.
The flat, liquid-cooled hybrid-specific battery features a design that exceeds requirements and has undergone validation tests far beyond the norm, allowing it to meet the new global standards for safety ahead of schedule.
Accelerating product strategy
In Beijing, Geely Auto officially announced its newest Galaxy M7 long-range hybrid was set to launch on April 28. Built on the new GEA Evo new-energy vehicle architecture, it features the ShenDun Golden battery, offering a pure-electric range of up to 225km and a range of 1,730km.
The wraps also come off the M9’s “black gold intelligent radiance edition” at the event. This bespoke variant is the first Galaxy brand model to come with the G-ASD H7 intelligent driving solution.
In addition, global pre-orders are now being accepted for a mid-size premium hybrid sedan, the Geely Galaxy Xingyao (Starshine).
This new model offers a comprehensive improvement across five areas – design, cabin experience, driving dynamics, safety and intelligence – redefining the value standards of the mid-size new-energy sedan segment.
Geely’s i-HEV intelligent hybrid technology is set to be fully integrated across Geely Auto’s line-up. In 2026. It plans to successively launch four to five all-new intelligent hybrid models.
Popular models such as the Xingrui, Xingyue L, Boyue and Emgrand will continue to undergo upgrades to solidify their market positions. This strategy aims to not only maintain Geely’s 10-year consecutive sales leadership among Chinese domestic brands, but to challenge the sales leaders in the ICE market including all global brands.
