Three Geely-group vehicles—a gasoline crossover, a mild-hybrid SUV and a battery-electric crossover—show why Chinese cars could appeal to US buyers: they pair competitive equipment with credible, if mixed, driving impressions across several price tiers. But “could succeed” is not the same as a sales forecast. The drives were brief, none of the reported prices is a US MSRP, and federal connected-vehicle rules could affect whether particular models can be sold here.
What the three drives show—and what they don’t
In a February 2026 feature, The Verge’s John Voelcker described brief track drives in three vehicles from brands within the Geely group. He found reasons American shoppers might take them seriously: useful cabin equipment in the Starray, a larger premium offering in the Lynk & Co 09, and a smooth-riding electric crossover in the Zeekr 7X. The lineup also spans gasoline, mild-hybrid and fully electric powertrains rather than betting on a single kind of buyer.
Those impressions are promising, but limited. These were not long-term ownership tests or full US-road evaluations. The Starray course did not allow extended high-speed running, and Voelcker did not try every Zeekr regenerative-braking mode. The account does not establish US specifications, crash-test results, warranty coverage, service-network quality or measured demand for these models. The claim that they could find buyers is therefore a market argument, not a demonstrated US sales result. The Verge’s February 2026 feature provides the drive impressions and reported market prices.
How the three vehicles differ
| Vehicle | Position and powertrain | Reported drive impressions | Reported price and market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geely Starray | Compact crossover; front-wheel drive; 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, 215 hp; seven-speed dual-clutch transmission | Pleasant, with better-than-expected grip and road holding; sluggish when pushed and not especially rewarding. Rear doors open only about 45 degrees. | About $31,630 starting price in Mexico. A Geely representative floated $25,000 as a possible US price; it was speculation, not an announced MSRP. |
| Lynk & Co 09 | Midsize SUV; all-wheel drive; 2.0-liter four-cylinder, 48-volt mild-hybrid system, eight-speed automatic; 254 hp | Its mild-hybrid system supports the engine but does not provide the low-speed electric propulsion associated with a full hybrid. The author found acceleration lacked the immediate electric thrust of a full hybrid. | $33,000 starting price in China; $53,750 starting price in Mexico. Neither is a US price. |
| Zeekr 7X | Compact battery-electric crossover on Geely’s SEA platform; reported 100-kWh battery; 416-hp rear-motor or 637-hp dual-motor version | Voelcker described the ride as notably smooth compared with a Tesla Model Y and the rear seat as usable by adults. This was an impression from a short drive, not a controlled comparison. | $32,000 in China and about $55,000 in Mexico. Neither is a US price. |
Geely Starray: useful equipment, with compromises
The Starray is the most conventional of the three: a compact, front-wheel-drive gasoline crossover. Its reported 215-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engine is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The tested example also had adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, powered driver-seat lumbar and leg support, and heated and cooled front seats—features that could make an everyday vehicle feel unusually well equipped for its class.
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On the track, Voelcker found the Starray composed, with more grip and road holding than he expected. Its limits were just as relevant: enthusiastic acceleration felt sluggish, and the car did not invite spirited driving. The rear doors’ roughly 45-degree opening angle could also make it harder to load a child seat or help a larger passenger climb in.
Lynk & Co 09: a mild hybrid, not an electric-driving hybrid
The 09 targets a different buyer: someone looking for a larger, more premium SUV. The Verge feature says it shares the SPA platform used by the US-market Volvo XC90. Its 48-volt mild-hybrid system has a small 0.2-kWh battery that captures some braking energy, assists the engine and helps restart it. It is not a full hybrid that can propel the vehicle at low speeds on electric power alone, which helps explain why its acceleration did not deliver the electric shove Voelcker associates with full hybrids.
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Platform lineage and a more upscale market position may help make the 09 legible to US shoppers, but they do not establish that it would drive like an XC90, carry the same equipment, or have equivalent ownership support. Those details would depend on a US-market version, if one were offered.
Zeekr 7X: the clearest electric-car pitch
The 7X is the electric option and the model most directly framed against the Tesla Model Y. The reported specification pairs a 100-kWh battery with either a 416-hp rear motor or two motors producing 637 hp. Voelcker’s strongest positive impression was its smooth ride relative to the Model Y; he also considered the rear seat suitable for adults. Because the drive was short, it did not establish how the other regenerative-braking settings behave in ordinary traffic, nor does the comparison substitute for instrumented testing.
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For US buyers, the 7X’s appeal would depend on more than power and ride comfort: a US specification, price, charging support, service access and eligibility under federal rules would all matter. None is established by the reported drive.
Why the prices do not predict a US sticker
The reported China prices for the 09 and 7X look far below their Mexican starting prices. That gap is a warning against treating a Chinese-market price as a likely US price. Taxes, tariffs, distribution, local specifications and policy could all affect a hypothetical US price; the feature does not quantify those factors. The Starray’s roughly $31,630 Mexican starting price is also distinct from the $25,000 figure a Geely representative floated as a possible US price. That figure was not a confirmed price or launch announcement.
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The broader pricing argument is about where a new entrant might fit, not a promise that it would be dramatically cheaper. Michael Dunne, CEO of Dunne Insights, told The Verge: “The Chinese don’t have to be scary cheap. They just need to be priced low enough to make you pause — then take a closer look.” He was discussing Chinese EVs in the UK, where he reported prices roughly 15 percent below Japanese and Korean models, led by BYD and MG. That is UK-market context, not evidence of US pricing or demand for these Geely-group vehicles.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Scale and platform sharing help the case, but do not settle it
The Verge reported that Geely Holding sold more than 4.1 million vehicles in the prior year, citing an automotive industry source, and characterized the group as China’s second-largest automaker after BYD. That scale, alongside platforms used across group brands, supports the argument that Geely could bring a range of products to market. It does not show that these specific models would succeed with US buyers, or that a shared platform guarantees the same parts, software, safety performance or ownership experience across vehicles.
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Could Geely-group cars legally be sold in the US?
In its February 2026 reporting, The Verge said Geely was “actively evaluating” a possible US entry and expected to decide within three years. That was the status reported at the time, not confirmation of a later launch or a current commitment. The feature also reported that Volvo’s South Carolina plant builds Volvo and Polestar vehicles, while Volvo said, “We do not have any plans to produce cars on behalf of Geely there.” No decision to build Geely-group models at that plant had been announced in the feature.
A separate complication is the US connected-vehicle rule. It is inaccurate to reduce the policy to a blanket ban on Chinese cars. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) says its rule took effect March 17, 2025, and applies to passenger vehicles under 10,001 pounds. It restricts certain imports and sales when covered vehicle-connectivity-system (VCS) or automated-driving-system software or hardware has a sufficient China or Russia nexus. The restrictions are phased and depend on the technology and nexus involved:
- Model Year 2027: restrictions apply to covered software and certain connected-vehicle sales involving manufacturers with the requisite nexus.
- Model Year 2030: a later phase applies to imports of specified VCS hardware.
BIS guidance describes declarations and authorization mechanisms under the rule. It also says certain sales restrictions apply to connected vehicles made by manufacturers with the requisite nexus even if the vehicles are assembled in the United States. US manufacturing alone therefore would not necessarily resolve the issue. Whether a Starray, 09 or 7X configuration could comply would require a model- and supply-chain-specific determination. See the BIS rule announcement and its connected-vehicles program guidance.
What would have to go right for the US case to hold
The drives make a credible case that these are not merely low-price curiosities: each vehicle has a distinct role, and the impressions included real strengths as well as shortcomings. Turning that into US success would still require answers beyond a short track session:
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- A US price and specification that make sense against established alternatives, rather than an imported China or Mexico price.
- A clear path through connected-vehicle restrictions for the specific vehicle software, hardware and manufacturer relationships.
- Practical ownership support, including service access, parts availability and warranty terms—none of which the reported drives evaluated.
- Full road and safety evaluations that let shoppers judge comfort, usability and protection under US conditions.
Until those points are established, “would clean up” is best read as a plausible argument about product appeal, not a settled prediction. The three drives show why US buyers might take a closer look; they do not show what these vehicles would cost, whether they could be sold in a particular configuration, or how many Americans would buy them.
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