- Geely Galaxy Cruiser teased
- Rugged off-road SUV to rival Land Rover Defender
- Looks like it's confirmed for a UK launch
- Could arrive by 2028
- Hybrid powertrain and sophisticated AI tech
Geely’s boxy, rugged Galaxy Cruiser is shaping up to be far more than a motor show curiosity.
After several conversations with senior figures inside the company, it’s now clear that the large off-road SUV – known internally as KO11 – is firmly part of Geely’s UK plans, even if the exact timing is still being pinned down.
In fact, Geely Auto UK marketing director Tianxiao Yan couldn’t have been much clearer: “We will definitely launch that car in the UK, no problem.”
The car was first shown in concept form at the Shanghai motor show, where it immediately drew comparisons with the Land Rover Defender thanks to its upright stance, clamshell bonnet, chunky proportions, and side-mounted accessories. Since then, Geely has gradually been moving away from concept-car vagueness and towards production reality.
Design director Flavien Dachet, who led the KO11 programme, says the Galaxy Cruiser represents entirely new territory for the brand. “The KO11, the large off-road SUV, is an all-new product for Geely,” he explained. “There was no precedent. Everything had to be created. The standards had to be created.”
That meant extensive benchmarking and internal debate before the project was even signed off. But once the fundamentals were agreed, development moved quickly.
“Once all the numbers have been approved and stamped, then we start the official process,” Dachet said. “And that process is then very, very fast.”
(Our man Phil Huff, pictured right, gets the lowdown)
Despite that progress, Geely is still being slightly coy about final details, including the name. Officially, KO11 doesn’t yet have a production badge, but Dachet strongly hinted that Galaxy Cruiser (or something similar) will carry over.
“The teaser was called the Galaxy Cruiser,” he said. “Some of that name would remain for production. It’s good. It will come later this year.”
Visually, the Galaxy Cruiser wears its influences proudly.
“If you look at classic off-roaders, there’s always the same recipe,” Dachet explains. “Whether you look at the Defender, the G-Wagen, the Bronco, the codes are the same. It’s about how we interpret it in a way that’s recognisable.”
The difference, he says, is in how Geely interprets those cues, aiming less at hardcore off-roading and more at luxury-focused family buyers who want reassurance, space and capability in equal measure.
Under the squared-off bodywork sits Geely’s most advanced platform, related to the SEA-R architecture used by the Zeekr 9X and adapted for high-end plug-in hybrids. While that platform underpins luxury SUVs, Geely insists it has genuine off-road potential.
Desert testing in China has already pushed the hardware beyond expectations, and the concept previews features such as independent active suspension, steer- and brake-by-wire technology, four-wheel steering, and a claimed 800mm wading depth.
The Galaxy Cruiser also uses AI to boost its driver assistance systems, spotting hazards and suggesting safer routes or actions when things get tricky. Importantly, it won’t override the driver’s inputs, but it will step in with warnings and guidance — sometimes physical — if you’re about to do something silly.
Production versions will inevitably be more restrained, but the underlying capability is already baked in.
Where things got particularly interesting was in a later conversation with Ash Sutcliffe, Geely’s global communications lead, and other senior staff.
When asked directly about the KO11’s UK future, Sutcliffe briefly paused.
“Did we commit to launching the car?” he asked colleagues.
That question was quickly answered by Tianxiao Yan, who confirmed the project is already part of Geely’s plans, even if the finer details are still fluid.
“Yes, that part is in our planning,” Yan said. “Exactly the date of launch in the UK for now is not that obvious. We are still thinking about that.”
Any remaining ambiguity disappeared when we saw a product roadmap during the briefing. Listed for a 2028 release was a mysterious ‘E-segment SUV’.
When pressed whether that vehicle was, in fact, the KO11, a Geely spokesperson confirmed: “Yes, the E segment SUV you saw on the presentation will be the KO11.”
In other words, while Geely may still be fine-tuning timing and positioning, the Galaxy Cruiser’s place in the UK line-up is already locked in.
The production version of the Galaxy Cruiser is expected to be revealed later this year, with Chinese sales likely to follow first. A UK launch is pencilled in for 2028, where it will sit at the top end of Geely’s range and take aim at premium off-roaders from Europe.
Pricing hasn’t been discussed, but if Geely follows its usual strategy, the Galaxy Cruiser is likely to undercut established rivals rather than try to match them on badge appeal alone.
“It’s opening doors to potentially more products that could be launched in the off-road space,” added Dachet. “This may be the start of something very cool.”
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