Geely has registered 2,140 vehicles in Spain this year, a sharp increase that points to more than another brand entering the market. The Chinese automaker had no recorded registrations in Spain during August in previous years. In August 2026, it registered 757 cars, its strongest monthly performance to date in the country.
Most car buyers still think of Geely as an Asian brand, but its influence reaches some of Europe’s most recognizable vehicles. London’s classic black taxis are among them: Geely owns the London Electric Vehicle Company, which has turned these icons of British streets into modern electric cabs. The company redesigned the air filtration system and replaced the engines. In Europe, Geely combines the launch of its own brands with the acquisition of established ones.
Geely’s ambitions extend well beyond cars. In 2022, it launched nine GeeSAT-1 satellites through its subsidiary Geespace. They provide high-precision positioning and communications for autonomous vehicles, with applications in drone operations and logistics. Geespace plans to expand the network to 240 satellites. Each is built to self-destruct safely after five years, helping avoid space debris. Industry analysts see the project as Geely’s effort to connect space technology with the next wave of mobility.
The company’s interest in new forms of transport reaches beyond cars on the road. In 2017, Geely bought Terrafugia, a US startup working on flying cars. The idea of commuters taking to the skies remains out of reach, but the move shows Geely’s willingness to back ideas most automakers avoid.
The Spanish passenger car market is also growing strongly. In August 2026, registrations reached 68,544 units, up 11.8% year on year and the strongest August result since 2019. Geely’s new E2 model officially launched in Spain on September 9, 2026, with a starting price of 13,990 euros for financed purchases. Local media reported pre-launch reservations.
For Spanish buyers, Geely is more than a curiosity. The company once ran a design center in Barcelona, part of a global network with studios in Shanghai and Gothenburg, as well as Coventry and California. The Barcelona office has since closed, but it showed Geely wanted to do more than sell in Europe: the company also aimed to design and innovate there.
Geely’s portfolio includes several well-known names, including Volvo and Polestar. It also controls Lotus, the British sports car brand. Since Geely took over in 2017, Lotus has moved from lightweight sports cars to electric SUVs such as the Lotus Eletre while retaining its core identity. Geely also bought a 49.9% stake in Proton, Lotus’s former Malaysian parent, giving it more control and resources to invest in the brand.
Geely’s financial strength has opened doors in Europe’s car industry. In 2018, it became one of Mercedes’s largest shareholders by buying a 9.69% stake in Daimler AG. The move went beyond investment: the two companies formed a joint venture to reinvent the Smart brand, shifting it from small city cars to larger electric vehicles built on Geely’s SEA platform. The resulting lineup includes the Smart #1 and #3, shaped by Chinese engineering and investment.
Founded in 1986 by Li Shufu in Zhejiang province, Geely began by making refrigerator parts and decorative materials before moving into motorcycles. It built its first car in 1997, becoming China’s first private automaker. The company initially focused on affordable cars for everyday drivers, then shifted toward technology and quality as it expanded globally.
Geely’s rise is part of a larger trend of Chinese brands making inroads in Spain, as reported earlier. Competitors such as BYD and Ebro have made headlines with fast sales. Geely’s approach is quieter: building its presence within established European brands while laying the groundwork for long-term influence.
Geely’s reach spans established brands and ventures into areas such as satellite technology and flying cars. In Spain, its growing footprint reflects both vehicle registrations and holdings across the European car industry.
