Expect one of Australia's newest Chinese car brands to go toe-to-toe with Toyota, Kia, Hyundai and BYD with its own plug-in hybrid seven-seat SUV.
Geely is due to bring the M9 large plug-in hybrid SUV to Australia next year, according to the brand’s local boss, as its entry into the seven-seater market.
The M9 is sold as a six-seater in China – with two 'captain's chairs' in the second row – but will be switched to a three-seat second-row bench for Australia.
Geely Australia CEO Alex Gu told local media including Drive that planning for the M9 is underway, and forms part of a broadening offering of large SUVs planned for the Australian market.
“SUV-C – an industry term for the medium SUV segment like the Geely EX5 and Starray EM-i – we already have,” he said.
“SUV D [a large SUV like the Santa Fe or Kluger], we are bringing two. Seven seats, and in the box style. Like Denza B5, or even like Range Rover.”
When asked specifically about the M9 large SUV for the Australian market, Gu said: “Yes. I think this model, we’ll bring it next year. It’s already under process.”
Gu said hybrid and plug-in hybrid power options are being considered for the Geely M9, but there is less interest in any non-hybrid versions.
“We know the Australian market is an emissions-sensitive market,” he said.
Australian government emissions rules on new cars, known as the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, will fine car companies for importing too many high-emissions vehicles that do not meet tough CO2 targets.
The regulations do not rule out 'plug-less' hybrids for Geely in the coming years, however, including a new ‘i-HEV’ the company is developing that has recently logged efficiency records.
Gu said this forthcoming technology is in the cards for a range of future Geely models, including the M9, as it is “friendly for the emissions”.
Measuring 5.2 metres long – larger than a Kluger or Palisade – the Geely M9 currently uses a plug-in hybrid powertrain combining a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, 41.5kWh battery and either one or three electric motors, depending on the trim level.
It yields a claimed electric-only driving range overseas of 210km to 230km, depending on the trim – and according to lenient CLTC testing in Chia – as well as a quoted hybrid driving range of either 1300km to 1505km.
Geely has earmarked its 'i-HEV' closed-loop hybrid powertrain technology for a wide range of future models, which could include large SUVs like the Galaxy M9, as the SUV is sold in China.
Sam Purcell has been writing about cars, four-wheel driving and camping since 2013, and obsessed with anything that goes brum-brum longer than he can remember. Sam joined the team at CarAdvice/Drive as the off-road Editor in 2018, after cutting his teeth at Unsealed 4X4 and Pat Callinan’s 4X4 Adventures. Off-road writer of the Year, Winner - Sam Purcell
