The first delivery of Geely’s Farizon SV electric vans to the UK happened this month at Felixstowe port in Suffolk.
The delivery encompassed two of the eight variants that will be available in the UK initially from Farizon, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Geely Holding Group, China’s largest private vehicle manufacturer which also owns Polestar, Lotus and Volvo.
Farizon has developed the SV for the European market and aims to be a market leader in the UK by the end of the decade.
The UK importer is Jameel Motors Farizon Auto, a new British company that is part of Jameel Motors which has international operations in Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Japan, China and Monaco, where brands it represents include Toyota, Lexus, BYD and MG Motor.
Jameel Motors Farizon Auto said order books will open in the UK by the end of Q1, with the first customer handovers to begin in Q2.
It is building a UK dealer network, which will consist of a London flagship dealership, operated by Jameel Motors Farizon Auto itself, and a number of regional franchised dealers which already have expertise in selling LCVs
The eight panel van variants on offer to UK customers will range from L1 H1 (4,990 mm long; 1,980 mm high) through to L3 H3 (5,995 mm long; 2,500 mm high).
L1 and L2 variants will have 67 kWh and 83 kWh LFP battery options, with the L3 H3 variant equipped with either an 83 kWh LFP or a 106 kWh NMC battery. Combined WLTP range is between 177 and 247 miles, with an urban WLTP range of up to 342 miles. UK-based testing is underway to validate real world unladen and laden range figures. Payload is up to 1,390 kgs with a load capacity of up to 13 m3.
It is anticipated that the majority of sales will be the L1 H1 and L2 H2 83 kWh models.
The Farizon SV recently received a Platinum safety award from Euro NCAP with a score of 85 points, which makes Farizon the top-ranked Chinese electric commercial vehicle brand in the Euro NCAP ratings.
Tom Carney, managing director of Jameel Motors Farizon Auto, said: “Landing the first UK-spec vans at the port sends a strong message to UK retailers and customers: we mean business. We introduced ourselves and our plans for the Farizon SV last month, and we’re on track to meet our ambitious timelines.
“The team is already meeting customers, retailers and partners as we prepare for the start of sales in the coming weeks, bringing an exciting new proposition to the UK van market.”