Geely enters Europe’s electric compact car market with the E2
Image: Geely
Geely Auto expects its all-electric E2 to replicate its success in China in Europe. In the People’s Republic, the model is sold as Xingyuan at a base price of 64,800 yuan, which is approximately 8,400 euros. According to the manufacturer, the electric car ended 2025 as the best-selling compact car worldwide with 465,775 units sold.
In Europe, the E2 starts at 19,990 euros. Key competitors include the Renault 5 starting at 26,290 euros, the VW ID. Polo starting at 24,995 euros, and the BYD Dolphin Surf starting at 23,490 euros. Geely’s product chief, Zack Zhang, said in Automotive News that interior space is a decisive advantage over the Renault 5: “I think space is our biggest competitive edge.”
At 4135 millimeters in length, the E2 is 213 millimeters longer than the Renault 5 and 82 millimeters longer than the VW ID. Polo. Its wheelbase of 2645 millimeters exceeds that of the Renault by 105 millimeters and that of the VW by 53 millimeters. Geely cites rear-wheel drive as another unique feature, while the aforementioned electric competitors use front-wheel drive.
Optimizations for European customers
According to the company, Geely engineers in Germany and Sweden invested over 7,200 hours in development to meet European requirements for maneuverability and comfort. The vehicle underwent approximately 720,000 kilometers of testing on eight test tracks. Geely sold 17,283 vehicles in Europe during the first seven months, up from 1,316 in the same period last year, and received more than 3,500 inquiries from interested customers in the first month of E2 pre-orders.
In Germany, the E2 is available in three variants. The Pro version, priced at 19,990 euros, comes with a 35.4-kWh battery and a 60-kW electric motor (82 hp), achieving a WLTP range of 252 kilometers. The Max costs 23,990 euros and features a 47.1 kWh battery capacity, 85 kW/116 hp power output, a range of 345 kilometers, and up to 80 kW DC charging capability. The Ultra version, priced at 26,990 euros, includes additional features such as 16-inch alloy wheels, an electric tailgate, ambient lighting, and a 540-degree camera.
Geely Auto Deutschland aims to sell 5,000 vehicles in the Federal Republic by 2026 and plans to expand its dealer network from 35 locations to over 60. Meanwhile, the company targets one million vehicle exports for this year and expects around 400,000 deliveries from China to Europe, half of which will go to Eastern Europe. Despite a 28.8% EU tariff on electric vehicles produced in China, Zhang expects the E2 to be profitable.
According to Zhang, Geely develops and produces key components for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles itself, including batteries, electric motors, and electronic control units. Regarding the success of the E2 in China, Zhang said a low starting price alone is not enough. “More needs to be offered,” he said, citing safety, driving performance, and interior space.
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About the Author
Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive industry and finance sector. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions on ecomento.de. Learn more.
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