Many MindedGeely puts a methanol plug-in hybrid sedan on sale from about $11,400
Geely Auto launched the Galaxy Xingyao 6 EF sedan on November 3, 2026, at an event in Shenyang. The company calls it the world's first production methanol hybrid family car. It runs on methanol, gasoline or electricity, and the two liquid fuels can be mixed in any ratio in one tank. Three variants are on sale. Limited-time prices run from 76,800 yuan (about $11,440) to 96,800 yuan, and official guide prices run from 86,800 to 106,800 yuan.
The powertrain is a plug-in hybrid with a 1.5-liter methanol engine, an electric motor and a lithium iron phosphate battery. A sensor reads the fuel blend in real time so the engine can adjust injection and ignition. Geely says the engine reaches 48.15% thermal efficiency and can cold start near -40°C. Electric range is 130 km on the entry variant and 230 km on the other two. Geely puts combined range at about 1,250 km on methanol plus a full battery. Refueling takes about 3 minutes.
This matters because methanol is a liquid fuel that can be made domestically from several feedstocks. A car that accepts it, gasoline and grid power gives drivers a cheaper fallback that doesn't rely on one supply chain. Scale is the open question. Geely's Victor Yang says China has built over 1,400 methanol refueling stations, and chairman Eric Li says over 6,000 of these cars are already in ride-hailing, taxi and official use.
The caveats are real. "World's first" and the efficiency ranking are Geely's own claims, and the range figures are manufacturer estimates. The entry prices are limited-time offers. Geely itself frames the car as a complement to battery electric and hybrid models, aimed at cold climates and long-distance travel, not as a replacement. Watch fuel prices at those stations and whether sales grow beyond fleets.
Source: CnEVPost