The Frenchman, a two-time winner on the European Tour this season, signed a for a bogey-free round at the Lake Malaren Golf Club as the lucrative Race to Dubai Final Series swing got underway.
Levy, a victor in China already this season, started his round at the 10th and birdied his first four holes before another gained shot at the 17th saw him reach the turn in 31.
Two more birdies on the back nine completed a solid round and Levy was delighted with his consistency.
"I played very good today," Levy said. "The last three tournaments I did that, and I did it again today. It's what I want in my game, to be consistent on the golf course and I like it when I am bogey-free."
Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts continued the form that saw him tie for fourth at the Wales Open last month - and finish second to Levy at the shortened Portugal Masters earlier in October - as he shot 66 to sit one stroke off the lead.
The 31-year-old had six birdies and two bogies through 13, but an eagle at the long 15th provided a boost.
Colsaerts could have joined Levy atop the leaderboard but he missed a 20-foot putt at the 18th and he is tied second with France's Romain Wattel and Emiliano Grillo of Argentina.
Graeme McDowell sits alone in fifth thanks to a blemish-free round of 67, while fellow Ryder Cup winners Jamie Donaldson and Thomas Bjorn - who are fourth and fifth in the Race to Dubai standings - are two of six men on four under par.
Edoardo Molinari is five shots off the pace, but he produced the moment of the day with a hole-in-one at the 212-yard par-three fourth - the third ace in the tournament's history.
Englishman Ian Poulter is in danger of missing the cut after an opening two-over-par 74, while the likes of Simon Dyson and Pablo Larrazabal are also struggling to make the weekend.