Geely Holding Group has signed a global strategic partnership with Google to put Google Automotive Services, including the Gemini assistant, Google Maps and Google Play, into eligible vehicles across its brands in overseas markets, extending a relationship that began with Volvo and Polestar.
The first vehicle with the services is planned for the second half of 2027 “in global markets outside of China and the United States, subject to applicable product, regulatory and market-readiness requirements,” the group said in a statement on Friday.
The rollout will cover passenger vehicles from Geely, Lynk & Co, Proton, Riddara and smart “among others,” the company said, without naming models or markets.
What Geely Announced
The deal covers “all eligible ZGH portfolio brand vehicles in overseas markets where Google services are available,” Geely said.
“People increasingly expect the same level of convenience and connectivity in their cars as they enjoy in their everyday lives,” said Dr. Shen Yuan, Senior VP and Chief Technology Officer of Geely Holding.
“We are excited to bring Google built-in to more vehicles in ZGH’s portfolio,” said Haris Ramic, Android for Cars Product Director at Google.
The group said details on models, markets, features and timing would be announced as the rollout progresses.
Built on Volvo and Polestar
Two Geely-controlled brands already carry the software.
The Polestar 2 has featured Google’s built-in services since 2020.
In May 2025, Volvo Cars and Google expanded their partnership, with Volvo serving as “one of Google’s reference hardware platforms for future Android development in cars.”
Both brands began rolling out Gemini to replace Google Assistant on April 30, 2026, starting with drivers in the United States, according to statements from Volvo and Polestar.
The Waymo Link
Geely is also tied to Google’s parent through Waymo, the Alphabet robotaxi unit.
Waymo‘s Ojai robotaxi is built on a base vehicle from Zeekr, part of Geely Holding, which is shipped to the United States for Waymo to fit its sensors and computer in Mesa, Arizona.
In July, Waymo added Gemini in Waymo to the Ojai, a conversational assistant for riders that it said “does not otherwise control any aspect of the vehicle’s movement or routing.”
A new silver version of the Ojai will begin serving rides “in the coming weeks” in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Waymo said on October 6.
Geely did not explain why the United States is excluded from the rollout.
The US Commerce Department authorized Volvo Cars on May 26 to keep selling connected cars in the country, but declined on June 25 to authorize Polestar, which is barred from US sales from the 2027 model year.
BYD Already Ships Google Abroad
Among other Chinese carmakers, BYD has gone furthest in shipping Google’s in-car software.
BYD is the only Chinese brand among the carmakers listed on Google’s Google built-in page, alongside Volvo, Polestar, General Motors, Honda, Renault and others.
“Google Built-In is equipped as standard on ATTO 2 DM-i, regardless of version,” BYD said in a UK release, adding that “Google Maps becomes the proprietary navigation system” alongside Google Assistant and the Play store.
The European ATTO 3 EVO includes “Google Maps, Google Play Store for a range of car-optimised applications, and Google Assistant,” the company said.
BYD’s premium Denza brand says its D9 DM-i minivan for Europe “features Google built in and Apple CarPlay.”
None of these BYD materials mention Gemini.
BYD’s overseas navigation software, supplied by Telenav, also includes a “Google Search Module” for finding points of interest and addresses, according to Telenav’s privacy policy for BYD vehicles, last updated in June 2024.
XPeng Takes It Step by Step
XPeng has taken a narrower route, starting with maps.
In July, XPeng said its L03 would be the first vehicle from an Asia-Pacific automaker to ship with the Google Maps Auto SDK, powering navigation and driver-assistance support in most overseas markets, excluding China.
On Thursday, it said it would bring Google Play into its cars, with the integration “scheduled to go live in early 2027.”
“Our work with Google Maps demonstrated what our two companies can achieve together,” said Dr. Xianming Liu, Vice President of XPeng and Head of its General Intelligence Center.
XPeng keeps its own AI voice assistant, and its statement did not mention Gemini or name the markets.
Most Rivals Rely on Phone Mirroring
Other Chinese brands selling in Europe and Australia mostly offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto rather than Google’s built-in services.
Changan says “Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are of course integrated” in its Deepal S07 for Europe.
Leapmotor, which sells abroad through its venture with Stellantis, added wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to the B10 through an over-the-air update this year.
EV found no Google agreements for Chery, Great Wall, SAIC, Nio, Li Auto or Xiaomi, in searches of company statements in English and Chinese.
Brands that use Huawei‘s cockpit software, such as AITO, are tied to a supplier with which Google suspended some business in 2019 after Washington blacklisted the Chinese company.
Geely’s deal is limited to markets where Google services are available, which excludes mainland China, and XPeng’s maps deal also leaves out China.
