The groundwork for this return began long before the first premises opened. Partnerships were secured with various dealer groups and independent dealers, which helped to establish a solid national footprint. This network of 33 dealerships is set to grow to around 50 by the end of 2026.

“We have more dealerships in the pipeline and the Geely brand is now well established in the metro areas and medium sized towns with more rural expansion planned for the near future,” says Quentin Opperman, General Manager Galaxy Brand Geely Auto SA, during an interview with Dealerfloor.

“Our expansion plans are done after careful consideration to make dealerships viable, and the increase of our product range will support further expansion. We kicked off with two SUV products, the fully electric E5 and the E5 EM i Hybrid which have been very well received.

“Geely Auto SA will have a full range of vehicles across all segments within the next two years. In 2026 we will add up to eight new models on our showroom floors covering hatchbacks, sedans, bakkies and more SUVs of different sizes,” Quentin says.

The powertrain offerings will range from fully electric vehicles to ICE and hybrid variants. The double cab bakkie, the Geely Riddara, will debut as an EV, with a hybrid version potentially arriving later next year. Several other models are also scheduled to enter the South African market in the coming months.

“We have also established a parts warehouse of 3 500m² at our head office covering over 5 500m². In a market that today is spoilt for choice, we want to set ourselves apart, not only with our product range but with customer satisfaction and that includes top notch after-sales support,” he explains.

“For us it was also important to bring a young but experienced team together to manage and to build the brand in South Africa. We want to create a family that will be part of the process for years to come,” Quentin tells Dealerfloor.

He emphasises that customers can be assured of the strength behind the brand. Geely Holding, owner of Geely Auto, is a Fortune 500 company and the second-best selling brand in China. “It also oversees several well-known brands like Volvo Cars, Polestar, Lotus, Zeekr, Lynk and Co, the London Electric Vehicle Company and Farizon, among others.

“In the longer term, we are looking at the possibility of launching Zeekr as an ultra-luxury brand here in South Africa, and we are also considering a purely commercial brand for local introduction in time.”

Quentin brings decades of industry knowledge to the table. He began his automotive career as a technical apprentice at Martin Jonker Nissan, which later became Imperial. Over the years, he gained experience across the industry, including time with, among others, a Chinese brand. He also worked for Volvo when Geely Holdings acquired the Swedish manufacturer, an experience that left him excited about the future of the Geely brand.

“Although Volvo and Geely have their own paths in the automotive retail field, it is common knowledge that platform and technology sharing benefitted both brands tremendously. It includes the inputs from other brands within Geely Holding Group to the Geely product line-up like Lotus, which are suspension set-up wizards.”

Quentin concludes by saying he is confident about what lies ahead. “With the team, parts warehouse and dealerships all in place and with the arrival of more models, we will push the brand to the forefront of the local market, supported not only by strong products but by the backing of a major global automotive player.”

• Read more on the new Geely E5 and the E5 EM i Hybrid that were launched locally: https://dealerfloor.co.za/product-news/geely-returns-to-south-africa-with-two-new-models