The New Zealand importer for Lotus, Polestar, and Volvo Cars, the Giltrap Group, has now been appointed as the official distributor for Geely Auto.
The Giltrap Group announcement follows a plethora of recent activity across the Tasman Sea in this space. Rick Armstong’s Auto Distributors NZ Limited has become the official distributor for Leapmotor, while Omoda Jaecoo began sales in the first quarter of 2024.
Evin Ye, Deputy General Manager of Geely Auto International Corporation, Li Lei, CEO of Geely Auto Australia, and Michael Giltrap, Joint Managing Director of Giltrap Group, signed the new distribution agreement in Sydney.
“New Zealand is crucial to our global expansion, and we are excited to strengthen our presence here. The alliance we’ve established with Giltrap Group will be pivotal to Geely’s sustained growth and reputation in the region,” Li Lei says.
The Geely EX5, a mid-sized electric vehicle and the first model to enter the New Zealand market, was showcased at the ceremony. The EX5 is slated for launch in 2025.
“Giltrap Group is proud to partner with Geely, who is undoubtedly one of the great automotive companies; this is something we have discovered first-hand through Volvo, Lotus and Polestar,” Michael Giltrap says.
“This partnership allows Giltrap Group to bring its range of vehicles to New Zealand. The combination of our great team, automotive distributor, and retailer expertise will deliver the best Geely experience to Kiwi drivers.”
“Geely also offers New Zealand customers a complete range of power trains, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, range-extended, petrol, and fully electric vehicles.
“Giving our customers a genuine choice across every type of energy-efficient vehicle has never been more important, as our country has unique requirements with the distances travelled and sometimes remote locations that Kiwis live or holiday in,” he says.
