After the Netherlands and Sweden, Zeekr will soon enter other European markets including Norway, Germany, Denmark and France, it said.
(Image credit: Zeekr)
Geely Holding Group's premium electric vehicle (EV) brand Zeekr has seen the first batch of Zeekr 001 built for Europe roll off the production line, with deliveries of the shooting brake model expected to begin in Europe within the year.
The first Zeekr 001s built for European customers rolled off the production line at Zeekr's plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on August 2, and the vehicles are expected to be shipped to Europe from the port of Taicang, Jiangsu province, in mid-August, the company announced today.
This comes just 106 days after Zeekr unveiled its European strategy, showcasing Zeekr Speed, it said.
Zeekr's factory in Ningbo uses all robots in the welding process, and it also has a 7,200-ton giant integrated die-casting machine, according to the company.
On the first day of the Shanghai auto show on April 18, Zeekr unveiled its European strategy, saying it will offer EV products to European customers based on a direct-to-customer business model.
Its first models in Europe are the flagship Zeekr 001, and the Zeekr X urban SUV, which was launched on April 12 in China.
They will arrive in Sweden and the Netherlands starting in the fourth quarter, with other countries to follow quickly, Zeekr said at the time.
On June 27, Zeekr announced that it began pre-sales of the Zeekr 001 and Zeekr X in Europe, with starting prices of €59,490 ($64,960), and €44,990, respectively, and that deliveries would begin within the year.
The two models will first be available in Sweden and the Netherlands, with first deliveries expected to begin during the year, Zeekr said in late June.
Zeekr's first direct offline stores will open by the end of the year in Stockholm, Sweden, and Amsterdam, Netherlands, and it will be in most of Western Europe by 2026, according to its previous that press release.
After the Netherlands and Sweden, Zeekr will soon enter core Western European markets including Norway, Germany, Denmark, and France, the company said today.
Meanwhile, Zeekr is actively exploring entry into additional countries and regions, it said today.
On July 10, Zeekr announced that it had signed an agreement with Israeli distributor Union Group to jointly establish a car distribution network in Israel.
GEO Mobility, Union's automotive business unit, plans to launch the Zeekr brand in the Israeli market in the fourth quarter and to assemble a professional management team to set up experience centers and a service system for Zeekr.
Zeekr said last month that it would launch the Zeekr 001 and Zeekr X in Israel, with pre-sales and subsequent deliveries expected to begin in the fourth quarter.
Zeekr delivered a record 12,039 vehicles in July, the second time this year it has surpassed the 10,000 mark, according to data it released on August 1.
($1 = 0.9158 euros)
