Chinese carmaker Geely is reportedly preparing to return to Singapore after exiting the market in 2010.
Rumoured return
The Business Times reported that Geely is in discussion with several distributors and retailers in Singapore. The report said Geely planned to match BYD’s ambitious sales targets and substantial investment in facilities such as showrooms and service centres
History in Singapore
Geely first debuted in Singapore in 2006. The brand sold relatively few cars during its early stint, leading to its eventual exit in 2010. Its sales were affected by rising Certificate of Entitlement premiums.
At the time, its highest number of sales was 505 units in 2007. Gradually, sales fell to a historical low of 26 in 2010.
Geely vehicle registrations reappeared again in 2025 and 2026, albeit as parallel imports. Around 42 units were imported in 2025 and 217 units in 2026.
Rivalling BYD
If Geely returns, it will compete with major electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD in Singapore. In the brands’ home country, China, BYD is touted as the no. 1 auto brand while Geely Auto is the second. With BYD’s consistent strong performance in Singapore, Geely’s return could extend its rivalry with BYD in China to the Singapore market.
In 2024, BYD’s sales in Singapore surged by 337 per cent, overtaking the previous best-selling brand, Toyota. The brand maintained this performance the following year, marking a second consecutive year as Singapore’s best-selling automaker.
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