Zeekr, a Chinese premium automaker soon to arrive in Europe

Zeekr’s offensive in Europe is set to start next year with the electric crossover 001.

Like Lynk & Co, Zeekr was created by Geely, the group that owns Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus. Positioned in the electric vehicle segment, this brand plays the premium, trendy card and targets a young and affluent clientele. Simply named 001, its first model takes the form of a crossover nearly 5 meters long. It will soon be joined by the 009, a large electric minivan with a quite striking look.

It is with the 001 that Zeekr plans to begin its offensive in Europe. In China, this model sold nearly 40,000 units from January to September 2022. Technically, it is equipped with two electric motors with a combined power of 544 hp, as well as a battery of 86 or 100 kWh (depending on the version).

The 001 recently set the fastest drift record for an electric vehicle, slipping at precisely 207.996 km/h. It also achieved the fastest slalom record, still for an electric car. Both performances were carried out to showcase the vehicle’s dynamic qualities.

Will Zeekr with 1,000 km range be marketed in Europe?

A Zeekr 001 equipped with next-generation CTAL batteries is expected to be launched in 2023. According to the manufacturer, it will exceed the symbolic threshold of 1,000 km of range. The current 001 can already travel about 700 km on a single charge. However, be aware that the Chinese homologation cycle is more optimistic than the WLTP standard used in Europe.

Zeekr’s plans for Europe are still a bit unclear. The list of priority markets and volume targets have not been communicated, for example. The prices of the 001 and the range of the lineup are also unknown. Therefore, it’s difficult to say whether the 1,000 km range 001 will be a reality.

Read also: Maxus T90EV: the first Chinese electric pickup in Europe