Geely launches Galaxy Starshine 7

Geely’s latest China launch is a reminder of how quickly domestic automakers are moving on price and specification. On May 22, the company introduced the Galaxy Starshine 7, a plug-in hybrid sedan with a starting price of 102,800 yuan, or about $14,500, and a top claimed system output of 312 kW. Geely says the model offers dual-motor all-wheel drive on higher trims, up to 220 km of electric-only range, and 0-100 kph acceleration in 5.4 seconds. Those numbers put a relatively low-priced family sedan into territory that would have looked premium only a few years ago. ### What exactly did Geely launch? The Galaxy Starshine 7 is a midsize plug-in hybrid sedan under Geely’s Galaxy brand. The launch lineup starts at 102,800 yuan and rises to 149,800 yuan, according to launch coverage, with the entry versions using front-wheel drive and the highest trim adding e-AWD. Geely says the car uses a 28.3 kWh battery and offers combined range above 2,000 km under China’s CLTC standard, alongside 220 km of electric range for the all-wheel-drive variant. (theautoexec.com) April 17 was the date Geely opened pre-sales for the model, and the company had then set a pre-sale band of 112,800 yuan to 142,800 yuan. The formal launch price undercut that starting point, based on reported limited-time pricing, which is a common tactic in China’s crowded new-energy vehicle market. (theautoexec.com) ### Why does the 312 kW figure matter? The 312 kW number matters because it signals how much performance Chinese brands are now attaching to mass-market price points. Geely says that output comes from the Starshine 7’s hybrid system and supports 526 Nm of torque and a 5.4-second sprint to 100 kph. In practical terms, that means Geely is not selling the car only on low running costs; it is also pitching speed, range and all-wheel drive in the same package. (cnevpost.com) A 220 km electric-only range claim also stands out for a plug-in hybrid. Under China’s CLTC testing cycle, that gives the Starshine 7 a much larger battery-backed electric window than older plug-in hybrids that were designed mainly to qualify for policy support or city driving exemptions. (cnevpost.com) ### How does the EX2 fit into the same story? May 28 is Geely’s next near-term date in this segment, because the company is set to launch a refreshed EX2 hatchback in China. Geely has described the EX2 as China’s best-selling model, and the company said in March that the car was the country’s No. 1 selling model across all segments in 2025. The updated version is reported to lift maximum range to 460 km under CLTC. (theautoexec.com) The EX2 matters because it sits at the lower end of the market, where Chinese brands have been scaling fastest. In other words, Geely is updating both a higher-spec hybrid sedan and a mass-market electric hatchback within the same week, showing how broad the company’s product push has become. That reading is an inference from the timing and model positioning, rather than a stated Geely strategy. (geely.com) ### Why are tariffs part of the conversation around launches like this? Canada’s tariff policy is one concrete example of how Western governments have responded to Chinese EV pricing. The Canadian government said a 100% tariff on Chinese-made EVs took effect on October 1, 2024, and that the surtax applies in addition to the existing 6.1% most-favored-nation import tariff. Ottawa said the measure was intended to protect Canadian workers and critical industries against what it called unfair Chinese competition. (theautoexec.com) Those trade barriers do not change the launch facts inside China. A sedan with 312 kW and all-wheel drive priced near 102,800 yuan, and a refreshed hatchback with a claimed 460 km range, still show the level of specification Chinese buyers are being offered in the domestic market. (canada.ca) ### What happens next? May 28 is the next date to watch, when Geely is due to launch the refreshed EX2 in China with the new 460 km maximum range claim. The Starshine 7 is already on sale from 102,800 yuan, with the all-wheel-drive version positioned at the upper end of the lineup. (topcarnews.net) (theautoexec.com)