• The M9 comes with a discounted starting price of just RMB 173,800 ($24,470), making it one of the most affordable large SUVs in the Chinese market.
• Analysts note the M9's core selling point is its highly competitive pricing, setting a new benchmark in the full-size SUV segment.

Geely Auto (HKG: 0175) sub-brand Geely Galaxy officially launched the M9, whose aggressive pricing is poised to disrupt China's large hybrid SUV (sport utility vehicle) market.

The six-seat M9 comes with a discounted starting price of just RMB 173,800 ($24,470), down from its pre-sales starting price of RMB 193,800, making it one of the most affordable large SUVs in the Chinese market.

Specifically, Geely Galaxy offers six M9 variants, including two equipped with basic driver assistance features, priced at RMB 183,800 and RMB 198,800 respectively.

The remaining four variants feature the Geely's G-Pilot H5 smart driving system, priced at RMB 192,800, RMB 207,800, RMB 226,800, and RMB 248,800 respectively.

Customers who place orders for any variant by October 31 will receive a RMB 10,000 discount, effectively lowering the starting price range to RMB 173,800 to RMB 238,800.

In China's fiercely competitive automotive market, limited-time discounts often turn into permanent price reductions.

This price is half that of Li Auto's (NASDAQ: LI) Li L9 extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) at RMB 409,800, yet offers comparable dimensions.

Deutsche Bank analyst Wang Bin's team views the highly competitive pricing as the M9's core selling point, saying the model sets a new price benchmark in the full-size SUV segment through strong cost control.

Given its competitive pricing and superior performance compared to peers, the team projects average monthly sales of about 5,000 units for the M9.

Built on Geely's Electric Architecture Evo (GEA Evo) platform, the M9 measures 5,205 mm in length, 1,999 mm in width, and 1,800 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,030 mm.

For comparison, the similarly six-seat Li L9 measures 5,218 mm in length, 1,998 mm in width, and 1,800 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,015 mm.

The M9's cabin features Agent OS, which Geely Galaxy said is the industry's first AI-agent-driven automotive cockpit.

The vehicle offers battery pack options of 18.4 kWh and 41.46 kWh, with CLTC battery ranges of 100 km and 230 km, and WLTC ranges of 85 km or 185 km.

With a full tank and fully charged battery, the M9 achieves a combined range of up to 1,500 kilometers, which Geely Galaxy said is more fuel-efficient than traditional sedans.

It's available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The most powerful variant delivers a peak power output of 640 kW (859 horsepower) and peak torque of 1,165 Nm, enabling acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds.

The M9 is one of several aggressively priced new models launched by Geely Galaxy over the past year, following the release of the updated E5 electric SUV and A7 hybrid sedan, both featuring extremely competitive pricing.

This strategy has fueled robust growth for Geely Galaxy, which sold a record 110,666 vehicles in August -- a 172.59 percent year-on-year increase and a 16.44 percent rise from July, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.

Buoyed by Geely Galaxy's performance, Geely Auto recorded August sales of 250,167 units -- its second-highest monthly total ever, trailing only January's 266,737 units.

($1 = RMB 7.1038)