Edmunds, a widely used car-shopping website, ran a Chinese-made SUV through its full suite of examinations for the first time and concluded that U.S. automakers have reason to take notice. The vehicle, a Geely Galaxy M9 extended-range hybrid SUV that begins at about $25,000 in China, underwent Edmunds' standard battery of tests designed to evaluate driving range, acceleration, braking and other performance metrics.
After time behind the wheel at Edmunds' Los Angeles test track, Editor-in-Chief Alistair Weaver said the M9's feature set outpaced many of the models the outlet currently tests in the U.S. "The technology is terrific," Weaver said, adding that numerous elements of the Galaxy M9 are "ahead of the vehicles that we’re driving in the U.S."
Edmunds pursued testing the Chinese vehicle in part because of rising U.S. consumer interest in lower-cost, feature-rich cars produced by Chinese brands. That interest exists despite the fact that Chinese-made vehicles are effectively banned from being sold in the United States. Regulations, opposition from lawmakers and tariffs around 100% have kept those models out of the market.
Some consumers, the article notes, are exploring ways to obtain Chinese models by importing them from Mexico, where such cars are common, or from Canada, where the presence of Chinese brands is expected to grow after Ottawa eased trade barriers.
Geely supplied the Galaxy M9 to Edmunds for the test drive. A company spokesperson said the purpose of providing the vehicle was to showcase Geely's global technological capabilities rather than to indicate an imminent push into the U.S. marketplace: "Geely continuously evaluates global markets, but our current commercial focus for the Galaxy M9 remains on China," the spokesperson said.
Edmunds obtained access to the vehicle after meeting Geely executives at the CES trade show earlier in the year. Although Chinese-brand cars cannot be imported and sold in the United States, Edmunds legally borrowed the model from Geely and drove it on U.S. roads. Staff members used the SUV in everyday situations for about three weeks - such tasks included grocery runs - and conducted a formal 227-point evaluation of the vehicle's performance and functionality.
Edmunds' assessment found the three-row Galaxy M9 competes against U.S.-market vehicles that carry price tags roughly twice as high. The outlets it compared the M9 to include fully loaded versions of the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride and Toyota Grand Highlander. Edmunds cautioned that if the M9 were sold in the U.S. it would likely carry a higher sticker price, but the outlet said the vehicle could remain competitive even at double the $25,000 Chinese starting price.
On the technology front, the Galaxy M9 includes a 30-inch infotainment display that Edmunds characterized as responsive, comparing its responsiveness favorably to Tesla interfaces. The vehicle also offers features commonly found on Chinese models, such as an integrated refrigerator, exterior speakers and a flip-down video screen for the second-row passengers.
Edmunds' testing produced an estimated total driving range for the plug-in hybrid of 808 miles, a figure the outlet said exceeds projections for similar products soon to be released by U.S. manufacturers. The Galaxy M9 is an extended-range hybrid - a configuration in which a relatively large battery propels the vehicle like an electric car while a smaller gasoline engine primarily functions as a generator to recharge the battery. In Edmunds' tests, the M9 achieved approximately 100 miles of electric-only driving before the gasoline generator was required.
Chinese automakers have sold extended-range hybrids for several years. Major established automakers, including Ford and Stellantis, have said they plan to introduce extended-range hybrid models in the U.S. as an alternative to plug-in and battery-electric models, particularly amid uneven consumer demand for pure EVs.
Industry observers note that China's intensely competitive domestic market has driven automakers there to produce vehicles with more features at lower prices. Tu Le, founder of consultancy Sino Auto Insights, commented on that market pressure, saying: "We’re seeing some of the most innovative products at the lowest prices, and consumers around the world are benefiting." He warned that keeping Chinese-brand vehicles entirely out of the U.S. market could frustrate buyers: "To keep them out 100%, full stop, that’s what’s going to upset people."
Summary: Edmunds tested a Geely Galaxy M9 extended-range hybrid SUV borrowed from the automaker and found its technology, features and estimated range compare favorably with U.S.-market SUVs that cost substantially more. The vehicle's availability is limited to China for now, and Chinese-brand models remain effectively blocked from U.S. sales by regulatory and political barriers.
- Key points:
- Edmunds' Editor-in-Chief said the Galaxy M9's technology is "terrific" and ahead of many U.S.-tested vehicles.
- The Galaxy M9 starts at about $25,000 in China and, per Edmunds, could remain competitive even at roughly double that price if offered in the U.S.
- Chinese brands are effectively kept out of the U.S. market through regulations, lawmaker opposition and tariffs near 100% - but consumer interest in these vehicles is rising.
- Risks and uncertainties:
- Regulatory and political barriers currently prevent Chinese-brand models from being sold in the United States, directly affecting the auto sector's competitive landscape.
- Tariffs around 100% mean the economics of importing Chinese vehicles into the U.S. are uncertain, which could alter pricing and competitiveness if those barriers change.
- Consumer efforts to obtain Chinese vehicles through Mexico or Canada indicate demand, but supply chain and trade arrangements create uncertainty for market entrants and dealers.
Note: This report reflects Edmunds' testing and statements from Geely and industry observers as provided during the evaluation. It does not include any additional claims or forecasts beyond those made in those sources.