Geely Auto Brazil Production Starts With EX5 EM-i Hybrid SUV

Geely Starts EX5 EM-i Production in Brazil

Geely Auto Brazil production has begun with the first locally assembled EX5 EM-i hybrid SUV rolling off the line at Renault do Brasil’s upgraded Ayrton Senna Industrial Complex. Renault Geely do Brasil announced the milestone on September 15, saying the EX5 EM-i is scheduled to launch in Brazil before the end of 2026. The start of local assembly establishes the first production milestone under the partnership between Geely and Renault in the country and gives Geely a manufacturing base for expanding its presence in Latin America. The move also links Geely’s overseas sales growth with a localized production strategy designed to strengthen its industrial and technology cooperation with Renault.

GEA Architecture Enables Multiple Powertrains

The Ayrton Senna Industrial Complex has been modernized to support Geely’s GEA, or Global Intelligent Electric Architecture. The upgraded facility is designed to build vehicles using a broad range of powertrains, including internal combustion engines, flex-fuel hybrids, and fully electric systems. This architecture gives the joint operation a production platform that can accommodate different vehicle technologies as the companies develop their Brazilian portfolios. The first EX5 EM-i assembled locally is therefore not only a production milestone but also a demonstration of the facility’s ability to integrate Geely’s vehicle architecture into Renault’s existing industrial operations in Brazil.

EX2 Electric Hatchback Production Set for December

Production plans also include the EX2, an electric hatchback based on the GEA architecture. Geely said the EX2 will begin production at the facility in December 2026, adding a fully electric model to the vehicles planned for local manufacturing. The latest statement, however, conflicts with an earlier announcement from Geely in June that said mass production of the EX2 had already started in Brazil. The two announcements describe different production timing, and the September statement provides the latest company-reported schedule for the facility. The discrepancy is relevant when assessing the timing of Geely’s broader manufacturing rollout in the Brazilian market.

Geely and Renault Deepen Brazil Manufacturing Cooperation

Geely Auto and Renault are using the partnership to deepen their industrial and commercial relationship in Brazil. The companies signed a cooperation agreement in November 2025 aimed at accelerating the Geely brand’s development in Brazil and localizing automotive technologies for South American consumers. Under the announced arrangement, Geely Holding Group and Geely Auto agreed to acquire a 26.4% stake in Renault do Brasil, while Renault Group retained control. The structure gives Geely access to Renault’s industrial and commercial resources in Brazil, while Renault can use Geely’s GEA architecture to expand its range of zero- and low-emission vehicles.

Overseas Sales Growth Supports Geely’s Expansion

Brazil is being positioned as a strategic market within Geely’s global expansion, according to Victor Yang, senior vice president of Geely Holding Group. Local production gives the company a direct manufacturing presence in a major South American market while connecting that operation with its broader international sales growth. Geely Auto’s overseas sales increased 205.16% year over year to 110,094 vehicles in August. During the first eight months of the year, overseas sales reached 690,985 vehicles, an increase of 170.48%. Those figures show the scale of the international growth accompanying the company’s expansion into local manufacturing.

Geely’s Overseas Growth Outpaces Overall Sales

Geely’s overseas growth has also significantly exceeded the pace of its overall sales expansion during the first eight months of the year. Total sales increased 2.44% to 1,943,313 vehicles, compared with the much faster increase in overseas deliveries. The Brazilian production launch therefore connects a rapidly expanding international sales business with a new localized manufacturing operation. For Geely and Renault, the immediate focus will be on bringing the EX5 EM-i to the Brazilian market before the end of 2026 and preparing the facility for EX2 production scheduled for December. The development also provides a foundation for further localization of Geely technologies in South America.

Industry Impact & Outlook

The Brazilian production launch gives Geely a localized industrial platform in South America while expanding Renault’s access to the GEA architecture and its range of low- and zero-emission vehicle technologies. The combination of local assembly and multiple compatible powertrains could allow the partnership to adjust its product mix as the Brazilian operation develops, with the EX5 EM-i followed by the planned EX2 production. The development is particularly relevant to Renault and Geely because their agreement links manufacturing resources, technology localization, and market expansion. The next milestones are the EX5 EM-i launch before the end of 2026 and the scheduled December start for EX2 production.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Geely begin producing the EX5 EM-i in Brazil?
The EX5 EM-i is a hybrid SUV that has started local production in Brazil at Renault’s upgraded Ayrton Senna Industrial Complex. Renault Geely do Brasil said the model is scheduled to launch in Brazil before the end of 2026, making it the first production milestone under the local Geely-Renault partnership. The facility has been modernized for Geely’s GEA architecture and can support internal combustion, flex-fuel hybrid, and fully electric powertrains. The companies also plan to begin EX2 electric hatchback production at the site in December 2026.