How did Geely PH make the Okavango Elite so much more affordable than before?

Geely Motor Philippines (GMP) has just launched the newly refreshed Okavango, now only with one variant, dubbed as the Elite.

You might have noticed its new retail price of Php 1,368,000 which is quite a huge drop compared to the previous top-spec Urban Plus variant’s retail price of Php 1,765,000. But how did this happen especially considering that their feature set remains largely identical?

Just for a little refresher, the Okavango Elite retains the Okavango Urban Plus’s full LED exterior lighting, 18-inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, 10.25-inch infotainment screen, and leather seats which get upgraded with a new and more premium-looking diamond stitch pattern. The only downgrade is the instrument cluster which is no longer fully digital.

Under the hood is still a 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo engine paired to a 48V mild hybrid system, capable of 190 horsepower and 300Nm of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

That’s actually where the magic happens.

Not long ago, we reported that the Geely Okavango has been recognized as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) by the Department of Energy (DOE) despite being only a mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) which are normally not included.

READ: The Geely Okavango has (finally?) been recognized as a hybrid by DOE

While for most buyers it’ll mean being exempted from the number coding scheme implemented in select cities in Metro Manila and Luzon, it means much more for the Chinese automaker. Its inclusion in the list of recognized HEVs means that it now benefits from the perks of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA Law). 

This also means that Geely Motor Philippines can now import units into the market without paying import taxes to the government, savings that are also passed onto the customer, hence the large price reduction.

We don’t usually like mentioning number coding exemption as perk of electrified vehicle ownership, but with the Geely Okavango Elite now exempted, and with its much more affordable price point, will it now become a part of your shortlist for a mid-size SUV?

_{Photos by Sam Surla}