SHANGHAI MOTOR SHOW: Geely's Geometry EV bound for Australia

Geely’s new electric vehicle sub-brand Geometry is squaring up to tackle the EV market in Australia “within two years”, according to the Chinese car-maker’s product planner.

Speaking to carsales.com.au at this week’s Shanghai motor show, where brand’s inaugural Geometry A sedan was unveiled, Geometry product planner Charles Sun said right-hand drive was in the works for the fledgling brand.

“We are now developing right-hand drive. But it will take some time. Within two years we will have right-hand drive and be able to go overseas.”

The legislation requirements in not only right-hand drive but also European markets are the reasons for the export delay, explained Sun.

“European collision rules and battery certification requirements are different.

“Countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand also have some different rules.”

The Tesla Model 3 competitor made its public debut last week in Singapore -- a right-hand drive market -- and although for now it is only available in the left-hand drive Chinese market, the bulk of orders for Geometry A have come from overseas.

“On April 11, we launched in Singapore, so we started selling cars that day [in China]. Nearly 10,000 have been ordered in China, but we have18,000 overseas orders.

“Overseas orders have come from countries such as South America, Singapore and France.”

Two models are available: a 52kW/h model with a 410km range and a 62kW/h model with 500km range. The 52kW/h version takes 8.5hours to charge its battery pack to 100 per cent. A fast-charge option takes one hour to fully charge the battery.

With an aerodynamic drag co-efficient of just 0.24Cd, the Geomentry A is about as slippery as the Tesla 3.

The lower-spec model , which sells from 150,000RMB in China (about $A31,000) is the most popular variant being ordered in China so far.

“The 400km model is popular, because it is not very expensive and 400km is enough. And in China it is convenient to charge, especially urban centres such as Beijing and Shanghai.”

The premium 500km model costs 50,000RMB (about $A52,000) – about $5000 more than the Hyundai IONIQ Electric liftback, around the same as the upcoming Nissan LEAF hatch and probably considerably less than next year’s long-awaited Tesla Model 3 sedan.

Geometry is just one of Geely’s many brands. The leviathan Chinese manufacturer -- which sold 1.5 million cars last year -- also owns a host of other brands, including Volvo, Lotus, Proton, London Taxi Company, Lynk and Co, and has begun a joint-venture with Daimler to build smart EVs in China,

The Geometry A is just the start of a product onslaught by Geely’s youngest sub-brand, said Sun.

“Maybe we’ll start with a SUV next year, but we will see SUVs, MPVs and more sedans — a total of 10 models — arrive before 2025.”