Yes, the Geely Galaxy Starship will be a production model soon

Most (if not all) of China’s major automobile manufacturers are in Beijing today for Auto China; the annual motor show that splits its time between Shanghai and Beijing every year.

As with any motor show, it’s a launch pad for many production models that we will see in showrooms soon in China or the Philippines or any of the other export markets. But what Geely is showcasing isn’t really a production car, but rather a concept and vision for a future… one that started life as a product of artificial intelligence.

GEELY GALAXY image

That is what is at the core of the Geely Galaxy Starship. While on the outside it looks like a combination of futuristic luxury minivan and SUV, it has a very unique origin story.

Geely says it makes use of a lot of AI-derived technologies to enhance the overall experience such as an AI chassis (that has the ability to respond to avoid accidents) panoramic surround audio AI system, an AI digital assistant, AI intelligent driving, and AI seats that have the ability for the seat to roll out of the vehicle via a retractable ramp. Even new GEA architecture marries AI, ecology, vehicle systems, and hardware into one platform.

GEELY GALAXY image

What’s really unique based on our conversation with Chen Zheng, Geely Auto’s VP for design, is that the entire project started out as an AI concept, and they developed and “humanized” the concept to make it come to life at the show as a prototype. Yes, the Starship is a prototype and not a far-into-the-future concept. That means we may see a production version in the next year and a half of the Galaxy Starship.

GEELY GALAXY image

The vehicle makes use of the latest plug-in hybrid architecture of Geely that brings together “Leishen” hybrid system, an 11-in-1 drive control system, and an 800 volt CTB battery system that Geely calls “Shendun”. Once fueled up and charged up, Geely says this should be able to do 2000+ kilometers.

As to how this will all work together, we have yet to see. A lot of the smart features (like the ability of the seat to roll out of the vehicle, the rear coach door or gullwing side windows) might not make it to production, but given the different design of the Galaxy Starship and the potential of the hybrid system, we can certainly visualize how it will turn a lot of heads when the time comes for it to hit showrooms.