Geely enters Pakistan with Bestway: EX2, EX5 and Starray EM-i unveiled, Port Qasim assembly next

Chinese carmaker Geely has entered Pakistan through Bestway Group, unveiling three new-energy vehicles: the EX2 electric hatchback, the EX5 electric SUV and the Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid SUV, Business Recorder reported on Saturday. Bestway Automotive, a Bestway Group company, is Geely's sole authorised distributor in Pakistan.

Prices have not been announced. Pricing, booking dates and final specifications will come through official channels, the company said, so anyone planning to buy should wait for the price list rather than pay a dealer's "own money" in advance.

The three cars

Imported first, assembled in Karachi later

The launch starts with imported (CBU) cars. Bestway is preparing a 24.71-acre facility at Port Qasim in Karachi for completely knocked down (CKD) assembly, with more than 403,000 sq ft of covered space and capacity for up to 25,000 vehicles a year. The aim is to have locally assembled Geely cars on the road by next year, Bestway Group Managing Director Irfan Muhammad Shaikh said, according to Business Recorder.

Warranty, finance and charging

• Warranty: up to 6 years or 150,000 km on the vehicle, and a proposed 8 years on the battery and motor.
• Finance: car financing through UBL.
• Booking: online, with a nationwide dealer network planned.
• Charging: a nationwide EV charging network through Bestway Renewable Technologies.

What it means for buyers

Geely joins a crowded field of Chinese new-energy brands in Pakistan, alongside BYD, MG, Changan, Haval, Deepal and Chery. Until prices are out, you can compare running costs: our fuel cost calculator shows what a petrol car costs per month at today's petrol price, and the car loan calculator works out monthly instalments once a price is known. Current prices of the cars it will compete with are on our car prices page.