Geely EX5 Enters UK Market Next Month – What Happened To Proton’s ‘Reboot’?

Earlier today, multiple UK titles reportedly confirmed that the Geely EX5 EV SUV – the ‘co-developed’ twin of the Proton e.MAS 7 – will officially launch in said market next month (Oct).

Initial details see the Geely EX5 entering the UK with the combination of a 60.2 kWh LFP battery pack plus 215 hp e-motor that yields ranges of up to between 267 miles (429 km) in base ‘SE’ guise and up to 255 miles (410 km) in range-topping ‘Max’ form.

For the UK market, the Geely EX5 is set to see three variants - SE, Pro and Max - on offer, and Geely Auto UK are aiming to bait UK fleet buyers with said EV SUV too.

Besides that, UK-bound Geely EX5 in entry-level ‘SE’ guise is set to feature 18-inch rolling stock, power-adjustable and heated front seats plus a heated steering wheel amongst its key standard features on board.

Include in the range too is a mid-rung ‘Pro’ variant that gains upsized 19-inch wheels and Cloud interior colour choice. The ‘Max’ range-topper adds a panoramic glass roof, ventilated front seats, as well as a powered tailgate, amongst others.

The Geely EX5 is set to officially launch in the UK next month (Oct).

Besides that, Geely Auto (Geely) have also announced tentative prices for all three variants, and they read at £31,990 (approx. RM183,042) for the ‘SE’, £33,990 (approx. RM194,486) for the mid-specced ‘Pro’ and £36,990 (approx. RM211,651) for the top-spec ‘Max’.

For the UK market, Geely says fleet buyers are poised to be the “key segment” for the EX5 – said buyer type accounts for the majority of all EV sales in the UK presently. The firm also expresses confidence that this EV SUV will appeal to UK buyers.

Proton had initially touted plans to re-enter the UK market with the all-electric e.MAS 7, though Geely's move to enter first with its EX5 twin may have seen said plan halted.

Certainly, the Chinese automaker’s plans of marketing the EX5 in the UK begs us to question the fate of previously reported plans for Proton to re-enter the UK market with its e.MAS 7 twin – essentially the same product with different badges.

Loyal followers of Carz.com.my will remember that about a year ago, Proton CEO Dr Li Chunrong was quoted by Autocar UK about the national automaker’s planned revival in key overseas right-hand-drive (RHD) markets – the UK being one of which.

Part of Proton's revival in key overseas RHD markets also stemmed from the development of the AHTV initiative at its Tanjung Malim plant where recently it established a new dedicated EV production line.

Said plan were to involve the support of partners Geely and buoyed by its promising ‘Automotive High Tech Valley’ production hub at Proton City in Tanjung Malim, Perak. Recently, Proton even established a new dedicated EV production line there too.

Despite having planned much earlier, it seems partners Geely have elected to move into the UK with the EX5  detailed first under its own banner. However, this does not mean Proton won’t have a chance to enter the UK still with its e.MAS 7 twin.

Presently, both the Proton e.MAS 7 and its Geely EX5 twin are sold side by side in Nepal. Could Proton and partners Geely do the same in the UK?

Presently, both the Proton-badged e.MAS 7 and Geely-badged EX5 twin are sold side by side in Nepal. We’ll add that both models are sold there within the same price bracket too, though a market as small as Nepal may be a one-off exception.

For now, it remains unclear if the e.MAS 7 is on the cards for Proton’s planned reboot in the UK now that its Geely twin is entering said market first.

Perhaps Proton could instead revive itself in the UK with its Geely-based combustion (ICE)-powered crossovers (X50, X70 and X90) and saloon (S70)? Only time will tell…