SHANGHAI — Geely Auto on Monday (April 13) launched its i-HEV Intelligent Hybrid system, aiming to challenge the dominance of Japanese automakers in the conventional hybrid vehicle segment by improving fuel efficiency and intelligence capabilities.

The i-HEV system integrates an AI-driven energy management platform that analyses real-time environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity and altitude to help boost energy efficiency, Geely said in a statement.

In a highway test, a Geely Emgrand model equipped with the system recorded fuel consumption of 2.22 litres per 100 kilometres, which Geely said set a new Guinness World Record.

Built on Geely's vehicle architecture, the system offers sufficient onboard computing power to enable intelligent functions such as smart driving — a feature the company said is not yet matched by Japanese hybrid models.

The hybrid system will be rolled out this year in several Geely models including the Preface, Monjaro, Starray and Emgrand.

"Geely's launch event today marks a key turning point for the industry," said Yale Zhang, managing director at Automotive Foresight in Shanghai.