A beloved Joburg tradition meets a global automotive success story, with the all-electric Geely E2 ready to ‘drive the wonder’
11 November 2026, JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Some partnerships simply make sense. Geely South Africa’s partnership with Janice Honeyman’s much-loved Alice in Wonderland pantomime at Joburg Theatre brings together two worlds that celebrate imagination, character and the possibilities of what lies ahead.
And there is a particularly fitting addition to this year’s adventure: the all-electric Geely E2. Audiences can expect a memorable entrance when the larger-then-life Dame Fanny Floppalot, played by Desmond Dube, takes to the stage in a crisp white Geely E2. With the climate-conscious characters El Niño and El Niña adding to the fun, the production offers a playful opportunity to introduce younger audiences and their families to electric mobility. As the Dame observes, it’s the future – so perhaps it is time to 'listen to the silence of electric'.
For Geely, the association is about more than a memorable stage appearance. The annual pantomime is a Joburg institution, bringing generations of families together through humour, music and spectacle. Geely may be a relatively new name to South African audiences, but the brand intends to become a lasting part of the country’s automotive landscape.
“Building brand recognition is about more than introducing a new name or putting a vehicle on the road. It is about creating meaningful experiences and building connections with people over time,” says Greg Maruszewski of Geely South Africa. “Partnering with a much-loved South African institution such as the Joburg Theatre pantomime is one of those important layers. It allows people to experience Geely in a setting that is familiar, joyful and shared across generations.”
And while the Queen of Hearts, played by Brendan Van Rhyn, may have a reputation for ruling with an iron fist, Geely is hoping to win hearts for rather different reasons.
Compact in size but big on character, the lovable E2 brings practical electric mobility within reach. It offers a claimed WLTP range of up to 325 km, DC fast charging from 30% to 80% in approximately 25 minutes, a generous 375-litre boot and an additional 70-litre front trunk. A modern digital cabin and available advanced driver-assistance features round out a package designed for everyday South African driving. The E2 is priced from R339,900.
Its appeal is already being demonstrated on the world stage. Geely announced in November 2026 that the E2, known as the EX2 in other markets, had surpassed one million cumulative global sales in just two years. In 2025, it was the world's best-selling car in the A- and B-segments, according to figures cited by Geely from IHS Markit. It seems that while Alice may have to navigate a world where nothing is quite as it seems, the E2 is finding its way into the real world at remarkable speed.
After all, new arrivals may come and go, but the ones that combine substance with character are the ones people remember.
With Alice in Wonderland, Geely is inviting South Africans to do just that: discover a new brand, experience a different kind of drive and perhaps see the future a little differently.
Geely E2. Drive the Wonder.
ENDS
