Tag Archives: UK

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Geely Aims Big: 10 New Electrified Models Coming to the UK by 2030

Chinese automotive giant Geely is officially planting its flag in Britain. The company behind Volvo, Lotus, Polestar, and LEVC has confirmed plans to launch 10 new electrified models in the UK by 2030, targeting the meat of the market—hatchbacks and crossovers—with a heavy emphasis on value and accessibility.

The EX5 Leads the Charge

The rollout begins with the EX5, a 4.6-meter-long electric SUV designed to take on the Skoda Enyaq, Ford Explorer, and Tesla Model Y—but at a lower price. Priced from £31,990 to £36,990, the EX5 undercuts most of its rivals while offering a respectable spec: a 215-hp single front motor, a 60-kWh battery, and a claimed range of 257 miles.

It’s a straightforward formula—affordable, practical, and electric—but Geely’s betting that British buyers will find the brand’s combination of value and global pedigree hard to ignore.

Discounts Stack Up

In a smart bit of timing, Geely is rolling out its own “grant” to mirror the UK’s new Electric Car Grant (ECG) for sub-£37k EVs. The brand is offering up to £3750 off the EX5 Max, plus a £1000 part-exchange allowance for any petrol or diesel car. Factor in a £500 subsidy for an Andersen home charger or a public charging credit, and the potential total discount rises to £4750—making the EX5 Max effectively a £32,000 EV.

That’s squarely in MG4 territory, but with a bigger footprint and a premium badge lineage.

“We provide extraordinary value for the customers,” said Michael Yang, Geely’s UK boss. “We think these customers deserve this, because they believe in us—they believe in the new brand and they believe in the new products.”

Yang added that profitability remains a priority. “We’ll keep a proper profit,” he noted, hinting that the brand’s long-term sustainability won’t rely solely on deep discounts.

A Fast-Expanding Lineup

By the end of next year, Geely plans to have four models on sale in the UK—two plug-in hybrids and another EV to accompany the EX5. Six more will follow before 2030, creating a multi-segment range covering the B-, C-, D-, and E-segments with both crossovers and hatchbacks.

Some of these cars already exist in China under the Geely or Galaxy sub-brands (the latter can’t be used in the UK due to Ford’s trademark), while others are new global models in development.

Lotus DNA, British Input

To make sure the EX5 drives like it belongs on UK roads, Geely turned to Lotus—its in-house performance brand—for chassis tuning. The goal: tailor suspension calibration for British tarmac and carry that tuning philosophy across the lineup.

The collaboration not only adds credibility but also shortens future development cycles. In short, Lotus know-how is helping Geely cars feel more “European” straight out of the box.

From Taxis to Family Cars

Interestingly, the EX5 was once destined to wear an LEVC badge—part of an earlier plan to evolve the Coventry-based taxi maker into a passenger car brand. That idea was scrapped after extensive focus groups, where over 1,400 participants reportedly agreed that LEVC’s taxi heritage clashed with the image of a family-oriented EV.

“Most customers, dealers, and fleet partners believed LEVC has its heritage in the taxi, and Geely is the right option for family customers,” said Yang. “We listened to the voice of the market.”

Looking Local

Geely’s UK operation could gain a further edge if it secures access to the Electric Car Grant, a move that would make it the first Chinese manufacturer to do so. Yang says talks are ongoing with the UK government, emphasizing the brand’s local engineering presence—including design studios, R&D centres, and manufacturing ties through Lotus and LEVC.

While European production isn’t on the immediate horizon, Yang admitted it could be “a solution, not a target,” if trade tensions or tariffs make it necessary.

A Strategic Entry Point

In Geely’s massive global portfolio, the UK brand will sit as the entry point—the value-focused arm in a lineup that stretches from budget EVs to Lotus supercars. The strategy feels deliberate: win hearts with affordability and familiarity first, then expand into higher-end segments as credibility builds.

And with an aggressive pricing structure, a credible technical base, and a head start on European localization, Geely’s British adventure might just be the most calculated move yet by a Chinese automaker.

Source: Autocar; Photo: Geely

News

Vauxhall’s Big Comeback: The Brit Brand That Refuses to Be Forgotten

Vauxhall’s new boss wants his brand back on the podium — and not the kind with champagne and confetti, but the one where the UK’s best-selling badges sit proudly. The target? Volkswagen, BMW, and Kia — a trio currently eating Vauxhall’s lunch.

Since the Covid slump, Britain’s oldest carmaker has been quietly sliding down the charts, its once-proud Griffin badge outpaced even by its continental cousin, Peugeot. But Steve Catlin, the brand’s new managing director, isn’t here for nostalgia. He’s here for a fight.

“My intention is to put Vauxhall back on the podium,” Catlin tells Autocar. “That’s not an immediate aspiration… but over the next few years, I want to get Vauxhall back onto the podium.”

Tall order. Up to the end of September, Kia had sold 93,000 cars in Britain — Vauxhall, just 66,000. And while the gap is closing, it’s not small. To close it, Catlin’s plan is clear: go back to the people.

For too long, Vauxhall’s relied on fleet sales — those endless rows of silver Corsas wearing company logos like battle scars. Catlin wants to flip the script: fewer spreadsheets, more showrooms. “The UK market is complex,” he says. “Historically, Vauxhall’s been concentrated on a few channels, sometimes to the detriment of the retail market.”

So, the mission: energise dealers, engage retail buyers, and make Vauxhall feel proudly British again.

Britain Calling

In fact, for the first time in a decade, Vauxhall’s launching a marketing campaign made specifically for the UK — not some rebadged Opel ad with a Union Jack awkwardly tacked on. “Rather than taking any kind of generic advertising from Germany, we’re doing something that is specifically about Vauxhall,” Catlin explains.

Translation: more emotional pull, less PowerPoint presentation. Expect more “Made for Britain” pride, fewer spreadsheets about kilowatts.

A New Wave of Metal

Of course, emotion only gets you so far. What really matters is the metal — and Vauxhall’s bringing plenty. The incoming Frontera could be the brand’s secret weapon. It’s bigger than the Mokka but cheaper, and Catlin reckons it’ll storm to second place in the lineup next year — right behind the ever-popular Corsa.

Do the maths: nearly 30,000 Corsas sold last year, around 20,000 Mokkas — if Frontera lands somewhere between, that’s a serious boost.

And that’s not all. The rebirth of the GSe sub-brand — starting with a 276bhp Mokka — could give Vauxhall some much-needed swagger. A proper halo model, with echoes of Nova SRs and Astra GTEs from the glory days. “Everybody that you talk to – certainly of my generation – has got a story with Nova SRs,” Catlin says. “That part of the brand has been missing.”

He’s right. Those old hot hatches were scrappy, characterful, and a bit rebellious — exactly the spirit Vauxhall could use right now.

Why It Matters

Vauxhall’s challenge isn’t just sales — it’s relevance. In a market obsessed with German precision and Korean value, Britain’s homegrown badge needs to rediscover its voice. Catlin’s vision is to make Vauxhall a brand that British buyers don’t just settle for — but seek out.

If the new Frontera hits, the GSe cars bring back a spark, and that UK-focused marketing gives the Griffin some teeth again — well, maybe, just maybe, we’ll see Vauxhall back where it belongs.

On the podium. With a pint. Smiling proudly.

Source: Autocar

News

Duracell Goes Full Throttle: 200 Million Reasons to Keep Britain Charged

Move over, bunny — the battery brand that “keeps going and going” is about to do just that… only this time, it’s charging your car instead of your remote. Duracell has officially announced Duracell E-Charge, a new high-speed EV charging network that promises to inject a jolt of energy into Britain’s electric future.

Over the next ten years, Duracell is dropping a cool £200 million to build a nationwide web of ultra-fast charging stations, each capable of delivering up to 1000 kW. Yes, that’s one megawatt — enough power to make your hair stand on end or, more usefully, to refill a hypercar’s battery faster than you can grab a flat white and scroll through TikTok.

The first six sites will open across the UK later this year, with Elektra Charge taking the wheel as the network operator. Behind the design and funding is The EV Network, the infrastructure experts already running 43 locations with 300 chargers — meaning Duracell isn’t exactly starting from zero volts here.

So, what can we expect? Picture gleaming hubs at motorway services, shopping centres, and city gateways — the sort of places where your range anxiety will go to die. Each location will feature multiple charging bays, convenience amenities, and that signature Duracell copper-and-black branding. Because if you’re going to charge your £80,000 electric chariot, you might as well do it with a bit of style.

It’s a smart move, too. Britain’s EV market is booming, but the public charging network hasn’t exactly been keeping pace. Duracell’s entrance could shake things up, bringing a familiar household name — and a big battery-shaped grin — to a field that desperately needs more wattage and less waiting.

And let’s be honest: if there’s any brand that understands keeping things charged, it’s the one that’s been powering our gadgets since the disco era. Now they’re ready to power the future — one megawatt at a time.

Source: Duracell