Hangzhou-headquartered Chinese automaker Geely has started pre-sales for its plug-in hybrid sedan, the Galaxy Starshine 8. Priced between $19,000 and $23,600, the vehicle features the G-Pilot intelligent driving and is powered by Geely’s in-house next-generation NordThor plug-in hybrid system, offering pure electric ranges of approximately 37 and 81 miles (CLTC).
The Galaxy sub-brand, responding to declining EV demand, has quickly shifted to producing more PHEVs, a move also seen with other Geely brands like Smart and Zeekr, which are transitioning from electric-only to hybrid models. The Starshine 8 is expected to be officially launched next month in May.
Lidar-powered system avoids obstacles at 75 mph
The Starshine 8’s G-Pilot system uses a roof-mounted lidar, five millimeter-wave radars, and 10 cameras to enable advanced driving assistance based on high-definition maps. It supports multiple levels—H1 through H9—with the top-level H9 offering autonomous navigation in both city and highway settings. Geely claims the car can handle over 300 parking scenarios and avoid obstacles at speeds up to about 75 mph.
The suite also enables features like partial highway self-driving, automatic lane changes, on-ramp and exit navigation, and high-speed emergency collision avoidance, similar to the E8 system.
The sedan is powered by either the NordThor EM-i or EM-P systems, depending on the trim. The EM-P setup pairs a 1.5-liter turbo engine (161 hp, 188 lb-ft) with a 215 hp electric motor (258 lb-ft), delivering a combined output of 375 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque through a 3-speed hybrid transmission. It accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 6.49 seconds and passed the moose test at 50 mph.
On the other hand, the EM-i system features a 1.5L engine producing 82 kW (110 hp) paired with an electric motor and a single-speed DHT. Its 18.4 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery provides a pure electric range of 81 miles and a total range of 994 miles, according to reports in Chinese media.
DeepSeek AI powers voice-controlled cockpit
The DeepSeek AI model is integrated into the car’s apparatus, which includes the Flyme Auto cockpit system. The cockpit features a two-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel, an instrument panel, a 25.6-inch AR-HUD, and a 15.4-inch central control screen, all enabling AI voice control interaction.
Earlier this year, Geely unveiled its Xingrui AI model as “the world’s first full-stack self-developed full-scenario AI big model in the automotive industry.” The model consists of three core components: language, multimodal, and digital twin.
Geely outlined that it plans to conduct distillation training on its Xingrui car control FunctionCall AI model using DeepSeekR1, where outputs from a larger, more advanced AI model are used to enhance the performance of a smaller model.
Furthermore, the Chinese auto giant’s ‘Smart Geely 2025’ strategy aims to accelerate the adoption of advanced AI technologies, including end-to-end voice interaction models, AI digital chassis, and intelligent driving systems.