Chinese Automakers “Reinvent” PHEV, AI-Driven Power to Lead the Global Market

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Last Updated on: 28th August 2025, 11:32 am

The integration of AI technology into the energy sector has emerged as a powerful force driving industry transformation. Beyond improving efficiency, it is a key enabler in our transition toward a greener, more sustainable future.

In the automotive industry, AI applications have traditionally focused on intelligent driving and smart cockpit systems. However, as automakers deepen their innovation and investment in AI, its potential to enhance powertrain performance, energy efficiency, and driving comfort is becoming increasingly apparent. Global car manufacturers are now ramping up their investments in this field.

This time, however, a Chinese automaker — Geely — has delivered a solution that sets a new benchmark, one that will not be easily replicated.

1) Geely “Reinvents” PHEV Technology with an Intelligent Powertrain System

According to Chinese media reports, Geely has unveiled an AI-powered hybrid system with the launch of its new flagship PHEV model, the Galaxy M9. This revolutionary technology, known as the “AI Cloud Powertrain,” features a cloud-based intelligent agent capable of learning users’ driving habits and intelligently allocating power between the internal combustion engine and electric motor.

By leveraging multidimensional data — such as navigation routes, average speed, travel time, traffic congestion, traffic signals, and speed limits — the system performs real-time calculations during each trip to optimize energy distribution. As a result, it can improve energy efficiency by approximately 5%.

It also employs a trajectory-based algorithm to assess the correlation between the current route and the user’s habitual driving patterns, enabling it to automatically select the optimal power distribution strategy. For instance, if the system detects that a frequently traveled route includes an uphill segment, it will proactively conserve battery power in advance. This approach ensures greater overall efficiency and can improve fuel savings by 15% to 20%, significantly reducing the vehicle’s reliance on gasoline.

In addition, during the development of its dedicated hybrid engine for plug-in applications, Geely’s engineers utilized AI to optimize the combustion chamber design. By analyzing millions of parameter combinations, the system identified the optimal compression ratio, combustion chamber, and intake port geometry, as well as the ideal stroke-to-bore ratio and combustion model — all within a remarkably short time frame. These enhancements resulted in a 10% increase in flame propagation speed and a 42% boost in in-cylinder turbulence intensity, expanding the engine’s high-efficiency operating range by 5%.

As a result, Geely successfully developed the world’s most thermally efficient mass-produced plug-in hybrid engine, achieving a record thermal efficiency of 47.26%. This engine significantly outperforms traditional hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in terms of carbon emissions.

Geely has also applied AI technology to optimize the electric drive system of its plug-in hybrid platform. Through deep reinforcement learning models, the development cycle has been significantly shortened, and power output has been substantially increased — all without changing the size or weight of the electric drive components. The result is a seamless blend of fuel efficiency and performance.

By harnessing the power of AI, Geely has effectively “reinvented” the plug-in hybrid — creating an intelligent powertrain system that can think and adapt.

The Galaxy M9, Geely’s newly launched flagship model, is positioned as a full-size SUV with dimensions of 5,205 mm in length, 1,999 mm in width, and 1,800 mm in height, and a curb weight exceeding 2.4 tons. Remarkably, it delivers a 0–100 km/h acceleration time of just 4.5 seconds and achieves a fuel consumption of just over 4 liters per 100 km in depleted battery (charge-sustaining) mode — setting new benchmarks in the segment.

2) Geely’s Innovation Is “Not Easily Replicated” — A Blueprint Others Can’t Simply Copy

Geely’s advancements are not mere demonstrations of technical prowess — they represent a clear declaration that the company has successfully built a comprehensive, AI-centered technology ecosystem. This ecosystem spans from foundational computing power to upper-layer applications, and from vehicle-side systems to cloud-based infrastructure.

With this end-to-end AI integration, Geely is positioned to develop disruptive, industry-defining products at greater speed and efficiency — setting a standard that competitors will find difficult to emulate.

Geely’s ability to be the first to leverage AI to disrupt the automotive industry is rooted in its comprehensive system capabilities — spanning hardware, large AI models, computing power, and cloud services. This integrated foundation is not a recent development; it is the result of a strategic roadmap initiated four years ago:

• 2021: Geely announced its vision to build an intelligent technology ecosystem powered by computing capabilities, data, AI models, and satellite networks.
• 2022: The company completed the Xingrui Intelligent Computing Center and successfully launched 9 satellites.
• 2023: Geely unveiled its proprietary Xingrui AI large model.
• 2024: The company began integrating its self-developed 7nm automotive-grade chips into vehicles and launched an additional 21 satellites.

Under this systematic development framework, in terms of computing power, Geely’s Xingrui Intelligent Computing Center 2.0 delivers a total performance of 23.5 EFLOPS, firmly ranking it as the leading Chinese automaker in this domain.

In terms of algorithms, the Xingrui AI large model system has achieved deep integration with several of the world’s most advanced AI models.

In terms of data, Geely’s AI Drive large model can generate complex driving scenarios spanning tens of thousands of kilometers per hour, boosting the training efficiency of intelligent driving assistance systems by 30 times.

With comprehensive leadership across the three core AI engines — computing power, algorithms, and data — Geely has become the only automaker globally capable of integrating AI across the entire value chain, from R&D and manufacturing to intelligent driving and in-car experiences. In contrast, automakers lacking a robust, systematic foundation will find it difficult to replicate this capability.

3) Geely’s New Galaxy M9 May Spell Trouble for Tesla

In August, Tesla released the Model YL, intensifying competition in China’s six-seat SUV market. Backed by the success of selling 170,000 Model Y units in just six months, Tesla’s decision to develop a six-seat SUV specifically for the Chinese market signals a clear and aggressive push for greater market share.

With a launch timeline closely aligned to that of the Model YL and featuring a similar six-seat configuration, the Geely Galaxy M9 is set to compete head-to-head with Tesla in this segment. As Geely’s first six-seat SUV powered by AI, the Galaxy M9 is well-positioned to challenge Tesla’s market share and could pose a significant competitive threat to the Model YL in the Chinese market.

For potential large SUV buyers, spaciousness is important — but comfort in the second and third rows is even more critical. With its boxy exterior design, the Geely Galaxy M9 offers a noticeably more comfortable seating experience in the second and third rows compared to the Model YL.

When it comes to interior comfort, the pressure is clearly on the Model YL. The Galaxy M9 transforms its six-seat layout into a mobile first-class cabin, featuring not only heated, ventilated, and massaging seats, but also a 30-inch integrated display, a smart refrigerator capable of maintaining temperatures from -6°C to 50°C, and 27 speakers. This turns every journey from mere transportation into a premium in-car experience.

Despite its larger size and heavier build, the Geely Galaxy M9 delivers impressive driving dynamics thanks to its AI-powered plug-in hybrid system and a dual-chamber air suspension chassis tuned by the Lotus engineering team. With a 0–100 km/h acceleration time of just 4.5 seconds and an 83 km/h performance in the moose test, the Galaxy M9 proves that driving enjoyment and control have not been compromised — even in a large SUV.

Moreover, when fully charged and fueled, the vehicle boasts a remarkable combined range of 1,500 km — nearly double that of the Model Y Long Range. Combined with a charge-sustaining fuel consumption as low as 4.8 liters per 100 km, the Galaxy M9 stands out as a well-rounded SUV that offers fuel efficiency, strong performance, and a pleasurable driving experience. It is well positioned to resonate with the preferences of a broad base of Chinese consumers.

In the area of assisted driving, where Tesla traditionally excels, the Geely Galaxy M9 has also delivered strong capabilities — offering map-free urban NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) and full-scenario automated parking, along with high-speed emergency braking at up to 130 km/h. Leveraging its localized advantage and the Qianli Haohan intelligent driving system, the Galaxy M9 emphasizes a driving experience that is safe, intuitive, and stress-free, fully meeting the expectations of Chinese users.

Although new-energy pioneers like Tesla initially set the benchmark for large six-seat SUVs, Geely is now redefining the rules through deeply integrated R&D and sharp consumer insight. The achievement of 40,000 pre-sale orders in a single day underscores a key reality in today’s new energy vehicle market: the brands that can deliver real user value at a more accessible price point are the ones that will ultimately establish a firm foothold in the market.