In the first month of 2026, Geely Auto did not simply ease into the year. It pressed the accelerator.
Reporting January sales of 270,167 passenger vehicles, the Hangzhou-based automaker posted a 1 percent year-on-year increase and a robust 14 percent rise month-on-month. Beneath those numbers lies a more telling story: momentum that is widening geographically, technologically and strategically.
New energy vehicles remain central to that narrative. NEV deliveries reached 124,252 units in January, up 3 percent year-on-year, reinforcing Geely’s steady transition toward electrified mobility. Internationally, the surge was even more pronounced. Sales outside mainland China climbed to 60,506 units, leaping 121 percent year-on-year and 50 percent month-on-month. Of those, 32,117 were NEVs, reflecting a 76 percent month-on-month increase.
This expansion is being orchestrated under Geely’s “One Geely” strategy, a unified yet carefully differentiated approach that sharpens each brand’s identity while leveraging shared technologies and global scale.
The Geely brand itself, positioned as a global mainstream new energy offering, recorded 82,990 units in January. A key milestone came in Southeast Asia, where the Geely EX2 was launched in Indonesia and entered local production. It signals more than market entry; it underscores the company’s intent to embed itself within regional ecosystems rather than operate solely as an exporter.
At the same time, Geely’s fuel vehicle lineup continues to demonstrate resilience. Delivering 134,448 units in January, up 87 percent month-on-month, it retained its status as China’s best-selling fuel passenger vehicle lineup for the ninth consecutive year. Even as electrification accelerates, internal combustion remains a meaningful revenue engine, particularly in markets where infrastructure and consumer readiness vary.
In the premium space, Lynk & Co recorded 28,877 deliveries in January, a 12 percent year-on-year increase. The brand’s cumulative global sales have now surpassed 1.71 million units, reflecting sustained demand for its design-forward, technology-rich positioning. Two core models continue to anchor that success. The Lynk & Co 01 has surpassed 330,000 global deliveries, while the Lynk & Co 06 has crossed 300,000 units, underscoring consistent appeal across segments.
Further upmarket, Zeekr is sharpening its profile as a luxury technology contender. January deliveries reached 23,852 vehicles, representing a 99.7 percent year-on-year surge. Its flagship models continue to dominate their respective niches in mainland China. The Zeekr 9X leads the large SUV segment priced above RMB 500,000, while the Zeekr 009 tops the MPV segment above RMB 400,000.
Global ambitions are equally evident. In mid-January, the Zeekr 7GT officially launched in Europe, entering 12 markets including the Nordics, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The move strengthens Zeekr’s foothold in highly competitive EV territories and signals growing confidence in its international proposition.
Looking ahead, Geely Auto Group has set an ambitious 2026 target of 3.45 million total vehicle sales, with 640,000 units earmarked for international markets. Achieving that goal will require more than volume. It will demand sharper product execution, deeper localisation, stronger global distribution networks and consistent brand building across diverse markets.
If January is any indication, the trajectory is clear. With electrification accelerating, premium brands scaling and international markets gaining weight, Geely Auto is not merely expanding. It is engineering a more globally balanced business, built on a portfolio that spans mainstream, premium and luxury segments while steadily advancing toward safe, intelligent and reliable mobility worldwide.
