It seems carmakers are starting to put a greater emphasis on ‘launching’ new products, as leading Chinese conglomerate Geely Holding announces a successful launch of 11 new satellites into low Earth orbit. These 11 new satellites form the fourth orbital plane of the Geely Future Mobility Constellation, also known as GEESATCOM, and now comprises a total of 41 satellites by the Chinese group in space. The launch was carried out earlier this month by Geespace, the aerospace arm of Geely Holding.
Why has Geely launched satellites into space?
Geely claims the GEESATCOM satellite constellation will serve over 200 million customers by offering global real-time coverage of data exchange to create an always-connected experience for drivers and passengers. Furthermore, owners will benefit from ultra-precision navigation down to centimetres even in remote areas, faster and more reliable over-the-air updates, uninterrupted infotainment streaming, and robust emergency connectivity even where cellular networks fail.
With autonomous technology coming into the fray, Geely’s GEESATCOM space infrastructure will also aid autonomous driving with “high-precision positioning that allows vehicles to navigate complex environments with accuracy”. Additionally, the future of fleet management is said to be enhanced with GEESATCOM as it will enable efficient fleet operations, from everything ranging from logistics to ride-hailing services, courtesy of real-time data exchange.
The August 9 launch of 11 satellites marked the fourth successful rodeo for Geely in space. In the past, Geely launched nine GeeSAT-1 satellites in June 2022, followed by a second orbital plane of 11 satellites in February 2024, with a third launch of 10 satellites in September 2024. Geely’s satellite deployment program is divided into multiple phases, with Phase One overseeing the launch of a total of 72 satellites by 2025 year-end. Phase Two is said to comprise an additional 168 satellite launches to reach a total of 240 satellites.
The satellite initiative cements Geely’s commitment to technological innovation. At the time of writing, Geely remains the only global automaker with a publicly declared satellite constellation aimed at integrating space-based infrastructure with its automotive and mobility technologies. Geely further increased its R&D investment by almost 18% to RMB 7 billion to support its “Smart Geely 2025” strategy and intelligent electrification roadmap.
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