The Geely Monjaro EM-i has set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title after completing a 188.6-kilometre continuous crossing between Egypt’s Black Desert and White Desert. The plug-in hybrid production SUV completed the demanding Sahara route while tackling extreme heat, loose surfaces, steep climbs and changing levels of grip, putting its hybrid system, e-AWD technology and suspension through a series of capability tests.
Geely announced the achievement during its Monjaro EM-i Product Capability & Core Tech Deep Dive event in Egypt. The record forms part of the SUV’s international launch programme, with the model also scheduled to appear at the Paris Motor Show in October.
What Guinness World Record Did the Geely Monjaro EM-i Set?
The Geely Monjaro EM-i earned the title for the fastest crossing of the Black and White Desert in the Sahara by a plug-in hybrid powered production SUV. The vehicle covered a continuous 188.6-kilometre route from Egypt’s Black Desert to its White Desert, facing high temperatures, dust, uneven terrain and changing traction conditions along the way.
The achievement is significant because the test involved a production SUV rather than a purpose-built competition vehicle. Geely also used the route to demonstrate how the Monjaro EM-i manages power delivery, traction, suspension response and thermal conditions when the vehicle operates under sustained load.
According to Geely, the test consisted of five professional challenges covering extreme handling and stability, consecutive steep-slope climbs, cross-axle recovery, ride comfort over rough terrain and acceleration with a low battery state of charge.
How Did the Monjaro EM-i Cross the Sahara?
The Monjaro EM-i crossed 188.6 kilometres between Egypt’s Black and White Deserts in one continuous route. The journey moved between volcanic terrain in the Black Desert and the chalk-white landscape of the White Desert, exposing the SUV to loose gravel, rough surfaces, steep sections, dust and inconsistent grip while its powertrain and chassis systems remained under sustained demand.
The route presented a very different challenge from conventional road testing. Instead of evaluating the vehicle only on smooth tarmac, Geely used changing terrain to test how quickly the Monjaro EM-i could adapt its power delivery and traction strategy.
Five specific tests formed the core of the programme:
Extreme handling and stability: testing vehicle control as the terrain and available grip changed.
Consecutive steep-slope climbs: examining the SUV’s ability to maintain traction through repeated climbs.
Cross-axle recovery: testing how the electric all-wheel-drive system responded when wheel grip varied between the axles.
Rough-terrain comfort: evaluating suspension behaviour across gravel, ruts and hard-rock surfaces.
Low-state-of-charge acceleration: examining power management when the battery had a low level of available charge.
Geely Monjaro EM-i Specs and Powertrain
The Geely Monjaro EM-i specs announced for the Sahara programme include a plug-in hybrid powertrain combining a 1.5TD engine developed for hybrid applications with an electric drive system. Geely quotes up to 250 kW of combined power and 667 Nm of torque, with a claimed 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 5.83 seconds.
The figures give the Monjaro EM-i a strong performance focus for a plug-in hybrid SUV, but the Sahara test was not simply about maximum horsepower or straight-line acceleration. One of its five challenges specifically examined acceleration with a low state of charge, making energy management an important part of the test.
Rather than relying solely on stored battery energy, the vehicle's intelligent power-management system coordinated propulsion and electricity generation during the low-charge acceleration test. This approach was intended to maintain responsive performance even as the available battery charge dropped.
Geely has not announced UAE-specific specifications, pricing or final trim details for the Monjaro EM-i in the information used for this report. UAE buyers should therefore treat international specifications as provisional until the local distributor confirms the model and its configuration.
How Does the Monjaro EM-i e-AWD System Work?
The Monjaro EM-i uses Geely’s e-AWD Intelligent Electric All-Wheel-Drive System, which can vary torque distribution between the front and rear axles from 100:0 to 50:50. The system works with traction-control technology to manage wheel slip and maintain available grip as the terrain changes.
Geely says the traction-control technology can reduce wheel slip by up to 50 percent. The e-AWD system can therefore shift from front-wheel drive when conditions allow to a more balanced 50:50 torque distribution when additional rear-axle traction becomes necessary.
This electronic approach also matters during cross-axle situations. When different wheels encounter different levels of grip, the system can react to the changing conditions instead of maintaining a fixed torque split.
The e-AWD system is coordinated by GEEA 3.0, Geely’s electronic architecture featuring what the company describes as a central computing system combined with zonal control. According to Geely, this setup allows the powertrain and e-AWD system to respond within milliseconds to changing terrain and traction conditions.
What Suspension Technology Does the Monjaro EM-i Use?
The Monjaro EM-i uses Continuous Damping Control suspension designed to adjust damping according to changing road and terrain conditions. Geely says the system can make adjustments up to 50 times per second, with a response time of 20 milliseconds, helping the SUV manage the repeated impacts and surface changes encountered during the Sahara crossing.
The suspension faced a mixture of gravel, ruts and hard-rock sections during the record attempt. Those surfaces can create rapidly changing wheel loads, making damping control important for maintaining vehicle stability while also managing body movement and ride comfort.
The suspension was therefore tested as part of the broader five-stage capability programme rather than as an isolated component. Geely specifically included rough-terrain ride comfort among the professional challenges carried out during the Sahara route.
How Did the Monjaro EM-i Manage Extreme Heat?
The Monjaro EM-i used a full-domain thermal-management system during the Sahara programme to manage temperatures across the engine, battery, electric motor and power electronics. This matters in extreme desert conditions because sustained heat and high-load operation can place additional thermal demands on both combustion and electric powertrain components.
The challenge was particularly relevant during the low-state-of-charge acceleration test. The intelligent energy-management system had to coordinate propulsion and electricity generation while the thermal-management system controlled temperatures across the vehicle’s main energy and power-delivery components.
For UAE driving conditions, this aspect of the test is particularly relevant from an engineering perspective. The UAE combines high ambient temperatures with extended highway driving, although a controlled Sahara record attempt should not be treated as a direct simulation of everyday Dubai or Abu Dhabi driving.
What Does the Sahara Record Mean for the Monjaro EM-i?
The Sahara record gives Geely a high-profile demonstration of the Monjaro EM-i’s announced hybrid, traction and thermal-management technologies. It also places the SUV within Geely’s wider international expansion programme, with the vehicle continuing its global launch journey after the Egyptian event.
The programme brought together around 20 media outlets and influencers from Egypt, the UAE, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Peru. Participants observed the vehicle during the record-setting crossing and experienced how its powertrain, e-AWD system and suspension responded to sustained high-load driving and rapidly changing terrain.
Geely also reported that its overseas sales reached 110,094 vehicles in August 2026, representing a 205 percent year-on-year increase according to the company. The Monjaro EM-i is expected to continue its international rollout, with its next announced appearance at the Paris Motor Show in October.
For the UAE market, however, the record should currently be viewed as a technology and capability milestone rather than confirmation of a local launch. Geely has not provided UAE pricing or a confirmed UAE launch date in the announcement used for this article.
Could the Geely Monjaro EM-i Come to the UAE?
Geely has not confirmed a UAE launch date for the Monjaro EM-i in the information currently available. The model is continuing its international rollout and will appear at the Paris Motor Show in October, but a UAE specification, pricing structure and local availability have not yet been announced.
The UAE would nevertheless be a relevant market to watch as Geely expands the Monjaro EM-i internationally. The region has strong demand for SUVs and growing interest in hybrid powertrains, while Dubai and Abu Dhabi also have established audiences for higher-specification SUVs and new-energy vehicles.
Existing Geely Monjaro models are already listed in the UAE market, giving the nameplate an established local presence. YallaMotor's UAE listings currently show the conventional Monjaro with 2.0-litre petrol power and four-wheel drive, but those specifications should not be confused with the new EM-i plug-in hybrid version.
Geely Monjaro EM-i vs Other Hybrid SUVs
The Monjaro EM-i enters an increasingly competitive global hybrid SUV environment, but its Sahara record gives the model a different launch narrative. Its combination of plug-in hybrid power, electric all-wheel drive and electronically controlled traction allows Geely to position the vehicle around both efficiency technology and demanding-terrain capability.
However, a Guinness record should not by itself be treated as a complete comparison with rival SUVs. The result applies to a specific record category and route, while competing models can use different powertrains, testing procedures and equipment. Direct comparisons should therefore wait until UAE specifications for the Monjaro EM-i become available.
For GCC buyers, the more useful technical points to watch will be the final local powertrain specification, battery capacity, charging capability, electric driving range, ground clearance, tyre specification, thermal-management calibration and the exact equipment included with the UAE version.
Why the Monjaro EM-i Sahara Record Matters in the UAE
The Sahara record is relevant to UAE audiences because it demonstrates the Monjaro EM-i operating in an environment that shares several characteristics with GCC conditions, including high temperatures, dust and loose desert surfaces. It does not prove identical performance on UAE roads, but it provides a real-world demonstration of the vehicle's announced traction and thermal-management systems.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi have established SUV and performance-car communities, while the wider GCC market has strong interest in vehicles that combine road comfort with desert capability. The Monjaro EM-i's record therefore adds another dimension to Geely's international positioning as the brand expands its new-energy vehicle portfolio.
Its exclusivity in the UAE, however, remains unconfirmed until Geely announces local availability. Buyers interested in the model should distinguish between the international Monjaro EM-i revealed through this programme and the petrol-powered Monjaro variants already available in the UAE.
Geely Monjaro EM-i: What We Know So Far
The Geely Monjaro EM-i has now established a Guinness World Record after completing its 188.6-kilometre Sahara crossing, giving Geely a documented extreme-condition demonstration for its new plug-in hybrid SUV. The test combined five capability challenges with a demanding route through Egypt's Black and White Deserts.
Its announced technical package includes a 1.5TD hybrid-specific engine, electric drive, up to 250 kW of power, 667 Nm of torque, e-AWD with variable front-to-rear torque distribution and Continuous Damping Control suspension. Geely also highlighted energy management and full-domain thermal management during the low-state-of-charge and extreme-temperature challenges.
The next major step in the Monjaro EM-i's global launch programme is its planned appearance at the Paris Motor Show in October. For UAE buyers, the key unanswered questions remain local availability, specifications and pricing. Until Geely confirms those details, the Sahara record remains a global capability milestone rather than a UAE launch announcement.
FAQs
What Guinness World Record did the Geely Monjaro EM-i set?
The Geely Monjaro EM-i set the Guinness World Record for the fastest crossing of Egypt's Black and White Deserts in the Sahara by a plug-in hybrid powered production SUV. The continuous route covered 188.6 kilometres.
How much power does the Geely Monjaro EM-i produce?
Geely states that the Monjaro EM-i produces up to 250 kW of power and 667 Nm of torque from its EM-i Super Hybrid system, which combines a 1.5TD hybrid-specific engine with an electric drive system.
What is the Monjaro EM-i 0-100 km/h time?
Geely quotes a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 5.83 seconds for the Monjaro EM-i in the specification announced as part of the Sahara programme.
Does the Geely Monjaro EM-i have all-wheel drive?
Yes. The Monjaro EM-i uses Geely's e-AWD Intelligent Electric All-Wheel-Drive System. The system can vary front-to-rear torque distribution between 100:0 and 50:50 depending on driving conditions.
Is the Geely Monjaro EM-i coming to the UAE?
Geely has not confirmed a UAE launch date, UAE pricing or final local specifications in the announcement covering the Sahara record. The model is continuing its international rollout and is scheduled to appear at the Paris Motor Show in October.
Is the Monjaro EM-i a plug-in hybrid?
Yes. The Monjaro EM-i is a plug-in hybrid SUV combining a 1.5TD hybrid-specific engine with an electric drive system. Geely used the vehicle's low-state-of-charge acceleration challenge to demonstrate its energy-management system.
Explore More on YallaMotor
For more information about Geely vehicles in the UAE, explore the Geely new cars section and browse the Geely SUV range. You can also check the used Geely Monjaro listings available across the UAE.
For the latest developments, visit the YallaMotor car news section or explore the wider new cars section for current UAE models and specifications.
