Chinese electric vehicle maker Zeekr launched a compact, all-electric sport utility vehicle, targeting a premium market in China that German automakers have dominated.
The Geely-owned [RIC:RIC: GEELY.The UL] brand also planned to offer the SUV-styled Zeekr X and its Zeekr 001 EV sedan in Western Europe without saying when.
With a starting price of 189,800 yuan ($27,615.31) in China, the Zeekr X offers features such as facial recognition to unlock the car and an option for an in-vehicle refrigerator, Chief Executive Andy An told an event in China’s southwestern city of Chengdu.
A said Zeekr X deliveries in China would begin in June with a goal of 40,000 this year.
Zeekr launched the new model ahead of the April 18–27 Auto Shanghai show, when manufacturers like Nio (9866. HK) and BMW (BMWG.DE) are anticipated to unveil their latest cars.
An added Zeekr will explain its global sales plan then. Zeekr would pursue Asian markets outside China after Europe, An stated without elaboration.
Together with Waymo, the Geely-owned EV producer has designed a tiny EV for robotaxi use.
A claimed Zeekr has no plans to sell EVs directly to U.S. customers.
Zeekr and Nio have grabbed market share from Mercedes Benz (MBGn.DE) and BMW in China by debuting EV vehicles faster.
Zeekr joins BYD, Xpeng, and SAIC’s MG brand in targeting Europe with EVs.
By 2030, French auto consultancy Inovev predicts 20% of European EVs will be Chinese.
According to China Association of Automobile Manufacturers statistics, 44% of first-quarter premium automobile sales in China were electric or plug-in hybrid.
Zeekr lags China’s EV contemporaries despite Geely founder Eric Li’s goals.
In the first quarter, it sold 15,234 models—the 001 car and the 009 multi-purpose vehicle—representing 2% of China’s battery-electric vehicle sales. Tesla (TSLA.O) sold 137,429. Nio sold 31,041.
Zeekr intends to treble sales to 140,000 automobiles in 2023.
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