Zeekr entra en el mercado europeo de vehículos eléctricos

Zeekr, the electric vehicle (EV) subsidiary of Geely Automobile, is pushing into the European market with two of its premium electric vehicles now available for pre-order in Suecia and the Países Bajos. Customers can anticipate delivery of the Zeekr 001 estate and Zeekr X SUV models this coming autumn, with prices commencing at 59,490 euros and 44,990 euros respectively.

Spiros Fotinos, the head of Zeekr’s European business, unveiled the news at a launch event in Gothenburg. He explained that the Netherlands and Sweden’s advancement in the EV market offers a perfect starting point for Zeekr, providing valuable insights into consumer behavior before progressing to other European markets.

He expressed ambitions for expanding into Germany, France, Denmark, and Norway by 2024. Fotinos told Reuters, “Our plan is that through 2026 we will cover the majority of western Europe.” Zeekr is not stopping there, with several new models in development aimed at key segments of the European market.

The move joins the ranks of other Chinese EV manufacturers, like BYD, Xpeng, and Aiways, who are venturing into the European market in hopes of capitalizing on the burgeoning EV enthusiasm amongst consumers.

Meanwhile, European automakers are navigating a double-edged sword: falling sales of their vehicles in China where local EV manufacturers are gaining traction, and increased competition from Chinese EV imports on their own turf.

In terms of distribution, Zeekr plans to establish flagship stores in Amsterdam and Stockholm by year’s end, supplementing these physical locations with online sales. “There has been a lot of inherent inefficiency in the traditional distribution system,” said Fotinos, underlining the company’s strategic shift to combat escalating costs.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.