Geely Launches the Monjaro EM-i

Geely is looking to carve out a niche in the midsize plug-in hybrid SUV segment with the Monjaro EM-i. This model is arriving in Mexico to compete with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the BYD Song Plus DM-i, and hopes to attract buyers of the smaller—but similarly priced—Toyota RAV4 PHEV.

The decision is a response to something the brand observed among its own customers. When the gasoline-powered Monjaro was introduced, some buyers visited dealerships interested in the design and driving experience, but they also expressed disappointment at the lack of an electric option.

The gasoline version sells approximately 100 units per month. Geely hopes the plug-in variant will double that volume, in part because it believes that consumers interested in Chinese brands are looking for options with electrified technology.

The Monjaro EM-i will also be the brand's second plug-in hybrid in Mexico, following the EX5 EM-i, and the model with which it aims to showcase the capabilities of its technology.

Although it shares the name and body style with the gasoline-powered Monjaro, this plug-in hybrid version is built on a different architecture. It uses the GEA Evo platform, which is designed for larger vehicles and is also used in other electrified models from the brand.

The SUV is manufactured in Xi’an, China, at a plant with flexible production lines that allow for the assembly of internal combustion, hybrid, and electric vehicles. This multimodal production capacity simplifies the manufacturing of different technologies at a single facility, rather than relying on a dedicated production line for each type of vehicle.