Geely Takes on BYD with Sweet Deal: Low-Cost Xingyuan EV Launches with Ice Cream Test Drives

Geely is taking direct aim at BYD with its newly launched Xingyuan EV, a low-cost electric vehicle designed for city life. The launch comes with a unique promotion: free ice cream for test drivers, making this release as sweet as it is strategic.

Geely's Latest EV Takes Aim at BYD’s Market

Tuesday was the official launch day in China for the new Geely vehicle. Electrek states that by 2025, Geely intends to have launched ten electric vehicles (EVs) across several categories under the Geome (Geometry) brand, which was unveiled in 2019.

Even though the brand debuted on its own as "Geometry," Geely eventually took over once sales dropped. The new Xingyuan electric vehicle is Geely's hope for a turnaround.

Urban Design Features Highlighted in Geely’s Xingyuan

The Xingyuan EV showcases the latest design philosophy of the brand. Geely claims it is ideal for city travel thanks to its basic appearance and oval headlights and taillights.

Sea salt blue, basil green, berry powder, milk white, mousse silver, truffle gray, and vanilla beige are some of the selections.

BYD Dolphin Faces New Competition in Size and Price

Similar in size to BYD's Dolphin (4,125 mm long, 1,770 mm wide, 1,570 mm tall), Geely's new affordable EV measures 4,135 mm in length, 1,805 mm in width, and 1,570 mm in height.

Compared to the Dolphin, which offers up to 1,310 L of luggage capacity when the second-row seats are folded, the new EV offers up to 1,320 L. A 70 L trunk is also part of it.

Geely’s Xingyuan Expected to Undercut BYD Dolphin's Price

The Xingyuan EV is anticipated to begin at approximately $11,200 (80,000 yuan); however, Geely has not yet revealed pricing. The BYD Dolphin starts at $13,900 (99,800 yuan), so if that's the case, it would be cheaper.

You can choose between a 30.12 kWh or 40.16 kWh CATL-made battery for the new model. The former has a CLTC range of up to 192 miles (310 km), while the latter has a range of up to 255 miles (410 km).

Q3 Launch Targets BYD's Market Share

Quarter 3, which ends this month, is when Geely announced the new affordable EV will be launched. The folks over at CarNewsChina have their pricing estimates at roughly $11,200 (or 80,000 yuan).

In an effort to entice customers to try out their new affordable electric vehicle, Geely has partnered with Haagen-Dazs to provide ice cream as an incentive.