Geely Galaxy Starshine 6 EF launching in November 2026, world's first methanol PHEV Sedan – future Proton eMas sedan?

Geely Galaxy has confirmed that the Starshine 6 EF will launch in China on 3 November. What sets this new sedan apart is its methanol plug-in hybrid powertrain, which allows it to run on methanol, petrol or electric power.

The Geely Starshine 6 EF is the world's first family sedan with a methanol plug-in hybrid system. While the powertrain is unlikely to be a practical proposition for Malaysia at present, the car itself could still be relevant to the local market.

The model on display at Geely's stand during the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition was the Starshine 6 EF. It could offer a glimpse of future Proton models, including a possible next-generation S70 (a Geely Emgrand ICE with some minor tweaks) or a new sedan under the Proton eMas brand. Neither possibility has been confirmed by Proton.

Methanol and petrol in the same tank

The Starshine 6 EF's main technical talking point is its dual-fuel system. Methanol and petrol can be stored in the same tank and mixed in any proportion, from 0% to 100%, giving drivers the flexibility to use whichever fuel is available.

Refuelling takes around three minutes, according to Geely, making the process similar to filling up a conventional petrol car.

Geely quotes the following combined driving ranges under China's CLTC test cycle:

• 1,250 km with a full methanol tank and a fully charged battery
• 1,880 km with a full petrol tank and a fully charged battery

The system is designed to combine electric driving for everyday journeys with liquid-fuel flexibility for longer trips.

Geely's methanol technology is already in use

Although methanol-powered cars remain unfamiliar to many Malaysian motorists, Geely has been developing the technology for years.

The company says more than 60,000 methanol-powered vehicles have entered service, covering a combined distance of over 25 billion kilometres.

Refuelling infrastructure has expanded alongside the vehicles. Geely's YuanChun methanol network now has 1,228 refuelling stations in China, with the company targeting 4,000 stations by the end of 2027.

What could this mean for Proton?

The Starshine 6 EF is unlikely to be introduced in Malaysia with its methanol powertrain any time soon, as we do not have an established methanol refuelling network.

Its relevance to Malaysia may instead lie in the vehicle itself. Geely and Proton already have a close technical relationship: the Proton eMas 7, for example, is based on the Geely Galaxy E5, which is also sold in overseas markets as the Geely EX5.

That makes the Starshine 6 EF worth watching, even if its current powertrain is not suited to the local market. If Proton were to adopt a similar vehicle platform or packaging for a future model, it could potentially be adapted for a petrol engine, a plug-in hybrid system or a fully electric powertrain.

This could provide one possible direction for a future Proton S70 or a new Proton eMas sedan.