Geely introduces new low-cost Xingyuan EV to challenge BYD, offers ice cream for test drives
Volvo and Polestar owner Geely Auto unveiled the new Geome Xingyuan EV on Tuesday. With starting prices expected to be around $11,200 (80,000 yuan), the new Geely model will rival low-cost EVs like the BYD Dolphin. As part of a partnership with Haagen-Dazs, Geely looks to lure buyers by offering ice cream for test drives.
The new Geely model made its official debut on Tuesday in China. Geely revealed the Geome (Geometry) brand in 2019 with plans to launch ten EVs across different segments by 2025.
Although the brand launched independently as “Geometry,” Geely took control of it due to low sales. Geely hopes the new Xingyuan EV can help turn things around.
The Xingyuan EV features the brand’s new design theme. Its oval head and taillights complement the otherwise minimalist design, which Geely says is perfect for city travel.
As part of its partnership with Haagen-Dazs, the exterior color options are inspired by ice cream. The options include Vanilla Beige, Basil Green, Berry Powder, Milk White, Mousse Silver, Truffle Gray, and Sea Salt Blue.
At 4,135 mm long, 1,805 mm wide, and 1,570 mm tall, Geely’s new low-cost EV is roughly the size of BYD’s Dolphin (4,125 mm long, 1,770 mm wide, 1,570 mm tall).
Meet the new low-cost Geely Xingyuan EV
Inside, the Geome Xingyuan features a similar layout to the Dolphin, with a suspended infotainment system at the center and an added driver display loaded. The infotainment system is loaded with Flyme Auto OS to support gaming and other fun features.
With the second-row seats folded, the new EV offers up to 1,320 L of luggage space, edging out the Dolphin with up to 1,310 L. It also includes a 70 L frunk.
Although Geely has yet to announce prices, the Xingyuan EV is expected to start at around $11,200 (80,000 yuan). If so, it would undercut the BYD Dolphin, which starts at $13,900 (99,800 yuan).
The new model will be available with 30.12 kWh or 40.16 kWh CATL-made battery options, with up to 192 miles (310 km) or 255 miles (410 km) CLTC range, respectively.
Geely said the new low-cost EV will launch in Q3, which ends this month. According to CarNewsChina, starting prices are expected to be around $11,200 (80,000 yuan).
To lure in buyers, Geely is offering ice cream through its partnership with Haagen-Dazs to test drive the new low-cost EV.
Can the Geely Geome Xingyuan compete with BYD’s Dolphin? Dolphin sales were down 53% in August as new competition arrives. However, they were still up 22% from July.
Source: CarNewsChina, Geely
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Environment
Baidu- and Geely-backed JiYue brand unveils ROBO X EV that goes 0-100 km/h in under 1.9 sec
JiYue, a Chinese EV brand focused on delivering all-electric “robocars” to the masses, has unveiled its latest model, and it’s quite a deviation from its previous EVs—but in the best way. Earlier today, JiYue launched the ROBO X supercar, designed for high-speed racing. By high speed, we mean 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 1.9 seconds. My mouth is watering.
JiYue has only existed since 2021, when parent tech company Baidu announced it was expanding from software development into physical EV production, joining forces with multinational automotive manufacturer Geely.
The new “robotic EV” marque initially launched as JIDU with $300 million in startup capital before garnering an additional $400 million in Series A funding, led by Baidu, in January 2022.
In August 2023, Geely took on a larger role in JIDU alongside a greater financial stake as the brand reimagined itself as JiYue, inheriting the JIDU logo and its flagship model, the 01 ROBOCAR.
In December 2023, Baidu and Geely unveiled a second model called the JiYue 07. It was born from JIDU’s ROBO-02 concept, which debuted in 2023 and was designed to compete against the Tesla Model 3 in China.
The 07 finally launched in China earlier this year with 545 miles of range. With an all-electric SUV and sedan on the market, JiYue has unveiled an exciting new entry in the form of a performance supercar called the ROBO X. Check it out:
JiYue’s new ROBO X EV is available for pre-order now
JiYue showcased its new ROBO X hypercar in front of the crowd at the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show earlier today. Similar to previous models but with a unique spin, JiYue described the ROBO X as an AI smart-driving supercar that, for the first time, blends artificial intelligence and autonomous driving into a high-performance, race-ready EV.
When we say “high performance,” we mean a quad motor liquid-cooled drive system that can propel the ROBO X from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in under 1.9 seconds. JiYue called the new ROBO X a “performance beast” with “the perfect balance of excellent aerodynamic performance and high downforce.” JiYue CEO Joe Xia was even bolder in his statements about the ROBO X:
For the next 20 years, the design of supercars will bear the shadow of Robo X. This is the best design in the history of Chinese automobiles today, and it is a landmark presence.
Fighter-style airflow ducts bolster the EV’s aerodynamics, efficiency, and overall posture. Per JiYue, the two-seater ROBO X is expected to deliver a maximum range of over 650 km (404 miles).
The new supercar features falcon-wing doors, a carbon fiber integrated frame, and a professional racing HALO safety system offering 360° of support. The interior features an AI smart cockpit with SIMO real-time feedback to give drivers an immersive racing experience.
Furthermore, JiYue said the vehicle will utilize parent company Baidu’s Apollo self-driving technology, which could make it the first electric supercar to apply pure-vision ADAS technology that enables track-level autonomous driving.
Following today’s unveiling of the ROBO X, JiYue has officially opened up pre-orders in China for RMB 49,999 ($6,915). That said, reservation holders will need to be patient as JiYue shared that it doesn’t expect to begin mass production of the ROBO X until 2027.
What do you think? Will people be talking about the ROBO X for the next 20 years?
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes the launch of the Lectric XPedition 2.0, Yamaha e-bikes pulling out of North America, LiveWire unveils an electric scooter concept, PNY readying its cargo e-scooters for pilot testing, Royal Enfield’s first electric motorcycle, and more.
The Wheel-E podcast returns every two weeks on Electrek’s YouTube channel, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
We also have a Patreon if you want to help us to avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.
Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the Wheel-E podcast today:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 9:30 a.m. ET (or the video after 10:30 a.m. ET):
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Crude oil futures were on pace Friday for loss for the week, as a supply gut and a strong dollar depresses the market.
U.S. crude oil is down more than 2% this week, while Brent has shed nearly 2%.
Here are Friday’s energy prices:
- West Texas Intermediate December contract: $68.56 per barrel, down 14 cents, or 0.2%. Year to date, U.S. crude oil has shed about 4%.
- Brent January contract: $72.36 per barrel, down 20 cents, or 0.28%. Year to date, the global benchmark has lost nearly 6%.
- RBOB Gasoline December contract: $1.99 per gallon, up 0.46%. Year to date, gasoline has fallen more than 1%.
- Natural Gas December contract: $2.70 per thousand cubic feet, down 2.98%. Year to date, gas has gained more than 4%.
The International Energy Agency has forecast a surplus of more than 1 million barrels per day in 2025 on robust production in the U.S. OPEC revised down its demand forecast for the fourth consecutive month as demand in China remains soft.
A strong dollar also hangs over the market, as the greenback has surged in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s election victory.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports7 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Environment1 year agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway