By ROB HULL, MOTORING EDITOR
China's best-selling car is coming to the UK market as the wave of new models arriving from East Asia looks set to continue in 2026.
Last year, almost 200,000 Chinese branded cars were bought by Britons as a flood of new manufacturers entered the UK to boost their sales volumes outside their domestic market.
In October, one of China's automotive giants announced its arrival on UK shores as Geely debuted its EX5 SUV.
At the time, it said it was targeting annual sales of 100,000 vehicles in the UK by 2030. However, the availability of a small, affordable electric runaround from the second half of 2026 could significantly bolster those numbers.
The EX2 - called the Galaxy Xingyuan in its home market - was China's most popular new model in 2025, with the company selling 465,775 examples in the calendar year.
With prices starting around £20,000 when it hits showrooms in summer and Britons already snapping up Chinese cars in their tens of thousands, it too could be a hit in the UK.
China's best-selling car is coming to the UK: The electric Geely EX2 supermini is due to arrive in showrooms in the summer
The electric supermini will go into direction competition with the smallest EVs sold in Britain at the moment.
This includes the impressive Renault 5, which starts from £21,500 inclusive of the Government's Electric Car Grant (ECG). Other rivals include the £19,000 Citroen e-C3 (also ECG qualifying), £21,000 Fiat 500 Electric and fellow Chinese newcomer, the £18,675 BYD Dolphin Surf.
While a price of around £20,000 will make it among one of the cheapest new EVs sold in the UK, it is far more expensive than it is in China, where an entry model can be had for as little as £6,000 - which explains its incredible popularity.
The unavailability of compact, low-priced models has - according to numerous market analysts and EV-pushing think tanks - limited demand for zero-emission cars.
However, Geely's EX2 is the latest signal that falling battery prices and lower production costs is allowing manufacturers to bring to market new EVs with relatively affordable price tags.
It's cars like this that are proving immensely popular in China, where electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) now account for more than half (51 per cent) of new motor sales.
In contrast, EVs and PHEVs account for a third (34 per cent) of models sold in the UK, where petrol remains the dominant force despite the looming ban on sales - alongside new diesel cars - in 2030.
With prices starting around £20k when it hits dealers - and Britons already snapping up Chinese cars in their tens of thousands - it could be a hit in the UK
The EX2 - called the Galaxy Xingyuan in its home market - was China's most popular new model in 2025, with the company selling 465,775 examples in the calendar year
Last year, almost 200,000 Chinese branded cars were bought by Britons as a flood of new manufacturers entered the UK to boost their sales volumes outside their domestic market. Geely launched here in October and sold almost 500 cars by the end of the year
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With greater appetite for EVs in China, the Galaxy Xingyuan has been a massive success.
Some 40,000 are sold per month, with over 50,000 registered in December.
To put those volumes into perspective, the UK's best-selling car in 2025 was the Ford Puma at 56,000 registrations.
The EX2 will share a platform with the Geely EX5, though a smaller scale version.
It too will adopt the same LFP battery packs, likely with the choice of 30 and 40kWh options linked to electric motors producing 78 and 114bhp respectfully.
Based on China's somewhat optimistic official tests, these return ranges of 193 and 255 miles respectfully. However, when processed through the European-standard Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, it's fair to suggest that UK drivers should expect shorter claimed distances between charges.
This would still make it competitive against rivals, with the Renault 5's official range around 190 to 255 miles depending on battery size and specification.
The EX2 - based on China's somewhat optimistic official tests - has a range of 193 and 255 miles depending on which of the two battery options customers choose
The EX2 will share a platform with the Geely EX5 electric SUV that's already on sale in Britain, though a smaller scale version
The five-door supermini has a rounded silhouette that's complemented by teardrop-shaped headlights and the option of a contrasting roof colour
Inside, it will have a large, landscape-mounted infotainment screen and a digital instrument cluster behind an oblong-shaped steering wheel
While already on sale in Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand - and rebadged as a Proton in Malaysia - the EX2 is likely to be tweaked for European roads before its debut later this year.
According to Car magazine, bosses said the suspension and handling is likely to be made stiffer and more responsive to reflect both the smoother driving conditions and appetite for engaging performance.
The styling is likely to remain unchanged, with a five-door body, rounded silhouette complemented by teardrop-shaped headlights, and the option of a contrasting roof colour.
Inside, it will have a large, landscape-mounted infotainment screen and a digital instrument cluster behind an oblong-shaped steering wheel.
While some of its budget-friendly rivals have a lot of hard plastics across the cabin, the interior will mostly be covered in soft-touch materials to give a more premium feel.
Speaking to Car magazine, Geely Auto UK’s marketing chief Mark Blundell said: ‘We hope [the EX2] will follow the EX5 and the Starray [the brand's PHEV SUV] by being very well equipped, having strong levels of quality.'
Daily Mail and This is Money has contacted Geely UK for more information about when the EX2 is likely to be available in one of the brand's 50-plus UK dealerships.
Despite only launching in Britain in October, Geely sold some 478 passenger cars in the UK last year.
In December alone it clocked 125 registrations - only 24 units less than Fiat.