Geely just had its best month of 2026, and the small E2 is spreading across Europe one country at a time

Geely closed October with its strongest sales of 2026. The Chinese group, which includes the Geely, Lynk & Co and Zeekr brands, reported 310,183 vehicles sold in the month on November 1, the first time this year it has passed 300,000. At the same time, the model doing most of the heavy lifting, the compact electric E2, keeps moving into new European markets: as of November 3 it is officially on sale in Italy.

A strong month, powered from outside China

According to the official release, October was the eighth month in a row in which the group grew both year on year and month on month. Compared with September, sales rose by about 6%. Battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models reached a record 214,996 units, 21% more than in October 2025. In other words, nearly seven out of every ten cars the group sold were electrified.

The breakdown published by "CnEVPost" shows where the momentum really comes from. Pure electric sales climbed 43%, while plug-in hybrids slipped slightly. The home market looks less rosy: sales inside China were almost 24% lower than a year earlier. Exports filled the gap.

Exports are the real engine

Geely shipped 107,153 vehicles abroad in October, more than two and a half times last year's figure, and the fifth straight month above 100,000. The mix is even more telling. Electrified exports hit a record 82,565 units, about three quarters of everything leaving the country.

Europe is starting to matter. The company says its three brands together passed 10,000 sales on the continent for the first time in September. In the UK, Geely signed its 100th retail outlet and topped 10,000 registrations just 11 months after entering the market. For Zeekr, European deliveries of the large 9X SUV are scheduled to begin in January 2027.

The E2, the car behind the volume

Much of that growth rests on a small car. The Geely E2 (EX2 in some markets) has passed one million units in 24 months on sale, according to Italian importer Jameel Motors. IHS Markit data quoted by "ANSA" ranks it as the world's best-selling car in the A and B segments in 2025.

On Geely Italia's official website, the range has three versions. The entry Pro gets an 82 hp motor and a 35.35 kWh LFP battery, good for 252 km WLTP. The Max and Ultra step up to 116 hp and 47.14 kWh, with up to 345 km WLTP. The car is 4.13 m long, rear-wheel drive, with a 375-litre boot plus a 70-litre front trunk. DC fast charging takes the battery from 30% to 80% in roughly 25 minutes, according to the manufacturer.

One strong argument for European buyers: in September, the E2 earned five stars from Euro NCAP under the new, tougher 2026 protocol. It is the first Geely model to achieve that under the new rules.

Starting prices vary by country. In Italy, the official list price starts below €21,000; in Germany the importer announced an entry price below €20,000; and in the Netherlands the car launched at just over €22,000 before the early-bird discount.

What it means for drivers

For European drivers, there are two takeaways. First, a small family EV with a five-star Euro NCAP rating and more than 300 km of WLTP range, at an entry price of around €20,000 in Western Europe, raises the bar for the whole segment. Direct rivals, from the Dacia Spring to the Renault 5 and the BYD Dolphin Surf, will have to respond on price or equipment.

Second, the rollout is gradual. The E2 is not yet available everywhere in Europe, but the pace at which Geely is opening new markets suggests a model this important for volume will keep spreading. In the meantime, the independent tests now starting in Italy and Germany are worth watching, especially for real-world consumption and cold-weather charging.

In short:

• Best month of 2026 for Geely Auto Group.
• Exports made up for weaker sales in China.
• The E2 has passed one million units and is now on sale in Italy.
• Five stars from Euro NCAP under the new protocol.