Geely Automobile Holdings saw its second-quarter profit increase by around 36-37% year-on-year in 2026, supported by rising exports amid a slowdown in the Chinese market [1, 2, 3, 4]. Net income for the quarter reached about 4.9 billion yuan (US$727 million), meeting analyst expectations [3].

The company’s revenue rose 15% year-on-year to 89.8 billion yuan in Q2 2026 [3]. Exports more than doubled in the first half of the year, reaching 474,228 vehicles, helping counteract a 20% drop in Chinese car sales during the same period. Industry forecasts predict a full-year contraction of 14% for China’s auto market [3].

Despite a 1.8% decline in half-year profits to 9.09 billion yuan, Geely topped estimates thanks to strong overseas sales and its premium sub-brand Zeekr. Zeekr’s 9X luxury SUV became China’s best-selling vehicle in the segment above 500,000 yuan, partly offsetting weak domestic demand [3].

In July, Geely signed an agreement to produce vehicles at Ford’s plant in Valencia, Spain, and plans local manufacturing with Renault in Brazil, as it expands its global footprint [3]. Following the robust Q2 results, the company raised its export target for 2026 [4].

Leadership changes came in August, with founder Li Shufu stepping down as chairman of Geely Auto and Andy An Conghui appointed as his successor. Li retains chairmanship of parent Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and stated, "We now initiate the campaign to cultivate professional talent and build a professional team. The succession aims to foster a positive environment for the healthy growth of our own talent and the healthy development of the company culture" [5]. Jerry Gan Jiayue was named CEO, replacing Gui Shengyue [5].

Earlier in the year, Li Shufu had mentioned at the Chongqing Auto Show that a succession plan was underway [5]. On April 28, Geely highlighted its Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid SUV during a Paris press conference [1, 2, 4]. The company continues to shift focus toward global markets and premium models to navigate China's challenging automotive environment.

Geely’s next key milestone includes scaling its export operations to meet the raised 2026 targets amid ongoing domestic market weakness [4].