Zeekr: Chinese automotive brand in France starting in 2023?

The very young Chinese brand Zeekr, owned by the giant Geely, hopes to double its electric vehicle production this year thanks to Europe.

For all those who follow the news of Chinese brands, the giant Geely also owns Swedish Volvo, but has recently launched Lynk & Co with great success. With its SUV 01, Lynk & Co innovated with a renewable 11-month lease without down payment of €550, which is very popular in France. Approximately 4,000 Lynk & Co 01 are currently on the road in France.

Another very promising brand, Zeekr, targets a more affluent clientele with premium models, such as the crossover 001, which has already sold over 40,000 units in China. Technically, this model is based on two electric motors with a combined power of 544 hp and offers a choice between two batteries of 86 or 100 kWh. Equipped with the latest generation batteries, this model could reach 1,000 km of range according to Chinese standards, or about 800 km here in Europe.

In China, this model is already sold for 300,000 yuan, which is about 41,000 euros, but is expected to arrive here at a significantly higher price that could exclude it from the well-known eco bonus. It should be recalled that in France, the bonus is now limited to 5,000 euros, for new cars purchased under 47,000 euros.

Zeekr sales on the rise

Furthermore, Zeekr gives Tesla a run for its money, which, facing commercial competition, has decreased its prices further in the Chinese market. Zeekr hopes to double its sales in 2023 to reach around 140,000 vehicles and increase its pace in Europe, although it is unknown when this wave will reach French shores. The manufacturer also announced at CES 2023 in Las Vegas that it will develop its autonomous driving systems in collaboration with Mobileye.

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