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Geely GC9 (Borui) 2015: The Sedan That Became China's Car of the Year
The Geely GC9, sold in China as the Borui, was Geely's flagship sedan of 2015. It went into production in April 2015 and won the 2016 China Car of the Year title, announced in November 2015. Designed under former Volvo design chief Peter Horbury, it offered engines from a 1.8 turbo to a 3.5 V6. It was built until 2022 and replaced by the Borui GE hybrid.
Key takeaways
- Previewed by the KC concept at the Shanghai show in April 2013; production from April 2015.
- Engines from about 120 kW (163 PS) to about 205 kW (275 hp), with a six-speed automatic.
- Five stars in the C-NCAP crash test with 55.8 points; 32,570 sold in 2015.
- Facelifted in 2018, replaced by the Borui GE and discontinued in 2022.
What the 2015 award was about
Our December 2015 report was surprised that a Geely beat imported luxury cars. According to that report, a jury of 22 voted in Guangzhou, with the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class and the Jaguar XE among the contenders; we could not confirm the shortlist elsewhere.
Geely announced that the GC9 had won the "2016 China Car of the Year" award, and press reports appeared on 19 November 2015, on the eve of the Guangzhou motor show.
GC9 engines, platform and safety
| Item | Geely GC9 / Borui (2015) |
|---|---|
| Platform | Geely KC, developed with input from Volvo |
| 1.8-litre turbo | about 120 kW (163 PS) |
| 2.4-litre petrol | about 120 kW (162 hp) |
| 3.5-litre V6 petrol | about 205 kW (275 hp), 2015 only |
| Gearbox | six-speed automatic by DSI |
| Suspension | double wishbones at the front, tuned with Prodrive |
| C-NCAP (December 2015) | five stars, 55.8 points |
The gearbox came from DSI, the Australian transmission maker that Geely bought in 2009, and the British firm Prodrive helped with the chassis tuning. Our 2015 text said the car used the Volvo S80 platform. Wikipedia describes the KC platform as developed jointly with Volvo, so the S80 link was a loose one.
Its safety kit was unusual for a Chinese car of 2015, with adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and automatic parking. Autoliv and Bosch supplied the systems.
Geely's flagship in the Chinese market of 2015
The GC9 replaced the Geely Emgrand EC8. Its design borrowed the fastback roofline and "ripple" grille of Volvo's cancelled Concept Universe. Horbury had joined Geely as vice-president of design in 2012, two years after Geely bought Volvo Cars.
By the end of 2015 it was selling more than 5,000 cars a month and was described as the best-selling Chinese-brand car in its class.
GC9 timeline from concept to discontinuation
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 2013 | KC concept at the Shanghai show |
| April 2015 | Production and Chinese sales begin |
| November 2015 | Wins the 2016 China Car of the Year title |
| December 2015 | Five-star C-NCAP result; 5,504 sales in the month |
| March 2018 | Borui GE hybrid revealed, on sale from May |
| April 2018 | Facelift at the Beijing show: 1.8T now 135 kW (184 PS) and 300 Nm |
| 2022 | Production ends |
The Borui GE used a 1.5-litre turbo with about 132 kW (180 hp) and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It came as a mild hybrid and as a plug-in hybrid.
Should you buy a used Geely Borui in 2026?
In October 2026 Geely no longer sells the Borui; its sedans now include the Preface and the electrified Galaxy models. The GC9 still matters as an early sign of Volvo's expertise reaching Geely's own cars. See our history of Geely.
A used GC9 suits a buyer who wants a large, well-equipped sedan for little money and has access to Geely parts. For alternatives, look through the Geely catalogue or the wider list of Chinese cars, set rivals side by side in the comparison tool and estimate costs with the ownership calculator.
FAQ
Is the Geely GC9 the same car as the Geely Borui?
Yes. Borui is the car's Chinese name, while GC9 was used in early announcements, in Geely's English-language releases and in some export markets. Both names mean the same sedan.
Who designed the Geely GC9?
The design team was led by Peter Horbury, Volvo's former design chief, who joined Geely in 2012. The styling drew on the KC concept and Volvo's Concept Universe.
What engines did the Geely GC9 have?
At launch it had a 1.8-litre turbo, a 2.4-litre four-cylinder and a 3.5-litre V6. The V6 was listed only for 2015, and the facelifted car of 2018 kept the 1.8T.
When was the Geely Borui discontinued?
Production of the original Borui ended in 2022, after a facelift in 2018. The Borui GE, launched in 2018 as a mild and plug-in hybrid, served as its successor in Geely's line-up.
