Chinese satellite operator has added to its fleet of Internet of Things (IoT) satellites in orbit to support its parent company's automotive business.

On August 9, Geespace expanded its Geely-04 Geesatcom IoT constellation from 30 to 41 satellites in a single launch, targeting key emerging markets.

Geespace, a wholly-owned subsidiary of car conglomerate Geely Holding Group, founded in 2018, plans to populate a 72-satellite first phase to serve IoT testing, conservation, and connected vehicles markets, which began launching in 2022. The company reports a focus on the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and boasts operations in over 20 countries in those regions.

Geespace and its parent, Geely, could not be immediately reached for comment.

The 11 satellites launched aboard a Jielong-3 solid propellant rocket – operated by China Rocket, a commercial spinoff of CASC – represent a record for the company, and China’s 43rd orbital launch of 2025. The launch took place from Dongfeng Haitaingang barge, retrofitted for use by Haiyang Eastern spaceport, in the Yellow Sea off the coast of Rizhao city in East Shandong. The record for most non-cubesat Chinese satellites launched at once is 41, via a Long March 2D for Hong Kong Aerospace Science and Technology Group in 2023, not far from the global record of 60 by SpaceX in 2019.

Chinese media states Haiyang Eastern spaceport aims to support 100 launches a year from 2027, having supported 68 in 2024.

Earlier in the year, Geespace signed an agreement with Morocco’s Soremar Group, advancing its interests in North Africa, established a joint venture with Malaysian telecom company ALTEL, signed an MoU with Advanced Telecommunications Solutions and Services (ATSS) of Saudi Arabia, and completed a deployment test in Oman in collaboration with Azyan Telecom.

Geespace reports a high reliability for its constellation already, with a 99.15 percent communication success rate and 99.97 percent network availability.