“Each year, the number of electric cars on the road doubles,” says Ronen Yablon, General Manager of Geely Israel. “This year, 10,000 electric vehicles will be sold in Israel, and next year, the number will increase to at least 20,000,” he adds.
Geely, the best-selling Chinese brand in China for the past 4 years in a row, entered the Israeli market in November with the debut of the Geometry C Crossover in Israel. Michael Song, General Manager of Geely Automobile International, who arrived in Israel for the Geometry C launch, said at the event, “The car market in Israel has great potential, and for us, it is one of the most important markets for implementing Geely Group’s global strategy in the field of new energy, which focuses on smart green energy savings and the production of smart electric vehicles.”
says that the corona pandemic significantly affected the world automotive industry, significantly, leading to a shortage of computer chips that are essential in today’s cars and causing increased shipping costs of products from China. He noted that Geely has announced that it will soon be developing its own chips for its vehicles in order to alleviate supply difficulties.
The pandemic has also influenced auto buying habits, notes Yablon. Today, many people extensively investigate and research Geely and other cars on the internet before purchasing, and the Geometry C can even be ordered online. “Most people will do a lot of research online, but I can say from my experience that in the end, most people still want to go to the showroom and see it up close. By the time they come here, they know the cars very well.” So well, he laughs, that they can even teach us a thing or two about the cars – “they come with very advanced and direct questions.”
Geely Israel, says Yablon, has already received more than 1,600 orders for the Geometry C, and delivery dates for new orders have extended to February and March 2022. He adds that customers are enthusiastic about the Geometry C because the car offers more than 400 kilometers of range with its advanced battery system and is priced competitively. “Geely is not just another Chinese care manufacturer coming to Israel. It is the largest Chinese private car company, and sales have exceeded our forecasts. Electric cars are no longer a specialized niche,” he says.
Yablon states that the climate crisis has influenced the increasing popularity of electric vehicles in Israel and throughout the world. “In Israel, the Minister of Energy announced that by 2030, new cars with combustion engines will no longer be sold.” He states that the number of charging stations for electric cars will increase in the coming years and notes that Israel has set aside NIS 30 million for funding to add more public charging stations in each of the next two years.
The Geometry C is just the first of additional models that Geely plans to introduce to Israel in the coming years, says Yablon. “The launch of a new car brand is real news for the Israeli car market, but when it comes to the penetration of a strong and significant manufacturer like Geely, it is even more exciting. The electric vehicle market in Israel is poised to take off, and we are convinced that today we bring to the Israeli audience an excellent product and the best value proposition in the market. A great deal of thought has been invested in all aspects of the design of the Geometry C to make it accessible to the Israeli consumer, including the high level of design, deluxe equipment, and advanced technology that characterizes the vehicle. In addition, the fact that Geely undertook the complete localization and standardization process for the Geometry C, ahead of its launch in Israel, indicates the company’s confidence in the Israeli market and its intentions to establish significant local activity.”
Ronen Yablon is optimistic about the future of Geely in Israel. “This is only the beginning,” he smiles.
This article is taken from The Jerusalem Post Annual Executive Magazine 2021-2022. To read the entire magazine, click here.
This article was written in cooperation with Ronen Yablon