Geely E2 new cheapest EV in SA

Geely South Africa unveiled its new compact all-electric hatchback that is currently the cheapest electric vehicle in South Africa.

The Geely E2 was launched at the Geely West Rand dealership on Tuesday, 14 April, starting at R389 900, dethroning the BYD Dolphin Surf, which sells for around R341 000.

Recharged visited China with Geely last year a drove the same car, badged as the Galaxy Geome Xingyuan, which was China’s best-selling car in 2025 with 467 775 units sold on this particular model, as shared by Geely SA at the event.

The rear-wheel drive Geely E2 has two variants, the Aspire at R339 900 and the Apex at R389 900. Both share the same core specifications, like an output of 85kW and 150Nm of torque; a top speed of 130km/h and going from 0-100km/h in 11.5 seconds.

Both also have a 39.4kWh battery with up to 325km of range (WLTP figures), and a claimed consumption of 15.2kWh/100km. It supports a maximum of 70kW on DC charging and a charge from 30-80% takes a quick 25 minutes, while 10-100% on AC charging will take around 6.5 hours.

Additionally, the E2 supports vehicle-2-load (V2L) and can feed power back to the home or external appliances and gadgets.

Tech specs on both variants include Geely’s Flyme Auto Smart System on its 14.6-inch infotainment system, a 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, both USB-C and A ports plus at the back for passengers, Bluetooth and 4G connectivity as standard.

Geely says the car offers more than 30 storage compartments, while the boot is 375L but expands to 1320L when the seats are laid flat, plus there is an additional 70L frunk (front trunk).

Given the Geely owns Volvo, it’s no surprise that the car has a range of safety features. These include ABS, ESC, six airbags, traction control, hill-start assist, and tyre pressure monitoring. Advanced driver assistance features include:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane departure warning
• Forward collision warning
• Intelligent high beam control

Jateen Daya, product manager at Geely SA says the battery cell provides real endurance, fast charging and long service life. Its safety protection monitors the temperature in real-time using 18 sensors throughout the car. He adds that the overall battery safety covers electrical, thermal, and production and manufacturing safety.

Geely E2 Aspire

• 15-inch wheels
• Fabric seats
• Manual air conditioning
• 4-speaker audio
• Rear camera and sensors
• Keyless entry and start
• Colours: white, silver, beige

Geely E2 Apex

• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Vegan leather seats
• Power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Wireless charging
• 6-speaker audio
• Ambient lighting
• Full ADAS suite
• 360-degree panoramic camera
• Colours: green, gray

Pricing, warranty, financing 

• Geely E2 Aspire – R339 900
• Geely E2 Apex – R389 900

Financing options start from R3 999PM, and includes a R7 500 voucher for charging, and a free wallbox and emergency charger.

Geely E2 benefits:

• 4-year/150 000km vehicle warranty
• 8-year/200 000 km battery warranty
• 3-year/200 000 km service plan
• 5-year unlimited kilometre roadside assistance

Geely’s dealership footprint is sitting at 32 nationwide, with plans to expand to 40 by the end of 2026.