Geely launched second batch of highly precise positioning satellites

04 February 2024

Geely Holding Group, not content with its growing portfolio of global EV brands, is spreading its tentacles into outer space. The Group’s own commercial satellite operator Geespace, launched a second batch of 11 satellites that eventually will create a dense constellation providing super precise positioning services.

Geely confirmed the satellites were successfully launched from the Sichuan province in China on February 3. The company plans to have a constellation of 240 satellites in low Earth orbit. The first phase is planned to be finished next year with 72 satellites with the 168 satellites coming online later.

The first phase will provide global data communication and once the constellation is complete, Geely expects it will be capable of providing high-precision position down to centimeter-level. Its services will be essential for autonomous driving as well as providing connectivity.

Aptly named Future Mobility Constellation, the satellite network will help autonomous vehicles plan their routes precisely and will aid with vehicle fleet management. The company sees its services as allowing vehicles to communicate with each other and excel at autonomous driving. Geely suggests that high-precision positioning will improve the perception and decision-making of autonomous systems making them even more reliable.

Geely’s premium EV brand Zeekr will be the first to take advantage of the new satellites with Zeekr 001 FR, Zeekr 007 and Galaxy E8 already having satellite comms built in. The SEA platform that Zeekr vehicles are built on has been designed with satellite support in mind and since Volvo, Polestar, and Smart share the platform, they will be able to use the new services in the future as well.

Geespace was established in 2018 and is based in Guangzhou and Qingdao with its development HQ in Beijing. The highly automated production facility in Taizhou is responsible for satellite development, production, and operation. The first satellites were manufactured in 2021 and the facility has 500 units a year manufacturing capacity.

Via