Geely Panda (LC) History

Launched in November 2008 to coincide with post-Olympic momentum, the Geely LC — sold domestically as the Panda or Gleagle Panda — was a small, boxy, affordable city car aimed at first-time buyers in China and export markets across Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

In 2010 the Panda earned a 5-star rating in China's C-NCAP crash test, making it the first locally researched-and-developed Chinese compact car to achieve that result — a significant credibility milestone for the brand. Geely also pioneered online car sales in China with the Panda, using its own website and later Taobao to sell a special online-exclusive edition.

Engine options were modest — a 1.0-litre three-cylinder and a 1.3-litre four-cylinder — paired with a five-speed manual. The model ran until approximately 2016 before being phased out.