Geely's Brazilian Factory Comes Alive: EX5 Plug-in Hybrid Now Built Locally, EX2 Joins the Line in December

Geely has started building cars in Brazil at the Ayrton Senna complex in Paraná, where the EX5 plug-in hybrid SUV has become the Chinese brand's first model assembled on Brazilian soil. CEO Ariel Montenegro also confirmed that the EX2 electric hatch enters local production in December, a move driven by demand for the compact, currently Geely's top seller in the country. Local assembly exempts both vehicles from the 35% tariff on hybrids and EVs introduced in July, though EX5 pricing is unchanged, running from R$189,990 in Pro trim to R$234,990 for the Ultra.

The EX5 is also the debut model on Geely's GEA modular multi-energy architecture, which Renault will borrow for its own car planned for 2027. Under the hood, a 1.5 naturally aspirated gasoline engine rated at 100 hp works mainly as a generator, feeding a 218-hp front electric drive motor for a combined 262 hp. A DHT gearbox manages the powertrain and hustles the 1,844-kg SUV from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds. LFP battery capacity varies by grade: 18.4 kWh in Pro and Max versions for 65 km of electric range, and 29.8 kWh in the Ultra, extending zero-emission driving to 112 km with 60 kW DC fast charging.

As for the locally built EX2, expect subtle bumper revisions aimed at aerodynamics and, more significantly, a battery upgrade from 39.4 kWh to 47 kWh that should push past the current 289-km Inmetro range figure. The 116-hp rear motor and the 10.2-second 0-100 km/h time carry over, but the 14.6-inch infotainment screen gains wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, fixing a frequent gripe about imported examples. Until local output ramps up, the hatch continues arriving from China in two trims priced at R$123,800 and R$136,800.