ISLAMABAD: Bestway Group launched Chinese automaker Geely Auto in Pakistan on Saturday, unveiling three electric models and taking over the Proton plant at Port Qasim in Karachi for local assembly. Bestway Automotive will sell the cars and handle after-sales service as Geely’s sole authorised distributor in the country.
The launch makes Pakistan Geely’s first market in South Asia. Geely Auto International Corporation Vice President Evin Ye said the company had chosen Pakistan as its first stop in the region, and added that Geely was the only automaker with a low-orbit satellite network.
Bestway Group Managing Director Irfan Sheikh said the company would focus on localisation and building a charging network to support its long-term presence in Pakistan. He said the partnership brought together Bestway’s investment experience and Geely’s expertise in the car industry.
Three models at launch
The three models at launch are the EX2 compact electric hatchback, the EX5 electric SUV and the Starray, which uses range-extended electric vehicle technology. The Starray combines electric driving with an onboard petrol engine, so it can travel further than a battery-only car.
The EX2 is a fully electric hatchback built for city driving. The EX5 is a fully electric sports utility vehicle, aimed at families who want more space and a longer range.
Bestway said the three models marked only the first step in the partnership. The company said it wanted to establish Geely as a recognised and trusted name in Pakistan, and to give buyers more choice in electric cars.
Bestway has invested more than 350 million dollars in Pakistan and created 20,000 jobs in the last three years. Its investments cover cement manufacturing and banking, and the car business is its newest step into a different sector.
Group Chief Executive Haider Choudrey said Geely’s arrival marked an important milestone in Bestway’s longstanding commitment to Pakistan. He said the partnership would open up opportunities for local manufacturing, employment and skills development.
Local assembly plans
Bestway will start by selling imported units while it prepares its 24.71-acre facility at Port Qasim in Karachi for completely knocked-down assembly. The plant has more than 403,000 square feet of covered space and existing capacity to assemble up to 25,000 vehicles a year.
The company aims to have locally assembled Geely cars on Pakistani roads next year. Local assembly should bring prices down over time and create more jobs in the supply chain, from parts makers to dealerships.
Bestway did not announce prices, booking dates or final specifications at the launch. The company said those details would be announced through official channels, and buyers should wait for that announcement before making plans.
The ownership package will include a nationwide dealership network. Bestway has proposed a warranty of up to six years or 150,000 kilometres for the vehicle, and eight years for the battery and motor.
Customers will be able to book online and get financing through United Bank Limited. A countrywide electric vehicle charging network is to be set up by Bestway Renewable Technologies, which already runs 115 megawatts of captive solar power at Bestway Cement.
A growing market
Pakistan’s car market is growing again. Car sales in Pakistan rose 43 percent year on year in the first quarter of the 2026-27 financial year, with analysts linking the rise to an improving economy and stronger demand.
Geely Holding Group, founded in 1986, sold about 4.12 million vehicles around the world in 2025. Of those, 2.29 million were new energy vehicles, about 56 percent of its total sales.
The group’s portfolio includes Volvo Cars, Polestar, Lotus, Zeekr and Lynk and Co. It has set a target of 6.5 million global sales by 2030, with electric and hybrid models driving the growth.
Bestway itself was founded in London in 1976 as a retail business. It now employs more than 63,000 people across wholesale, cement, banking, renewable energy and other sectors, with annual revenue of 7.9 billion dollars.
In Pakistan, it owns Bestway Cement, the country’s largest cement maker with a capacity of 15.3 million tonnes, and holds a major stake in United Bank Limited. The Geely launch extends that footprint into cars for the first time.
The arrival of another global carmaker adds to the competition in Pakistan’s electric vehicle market. Buyers will now watch for the official prices and booking dates, which will show whether the new models can compete with the electric cars already on sale in the country.
