Geely’s latest all-electric brand to arrive in the UK will be Zeekr, the company announced at the Shanghai Auto Show.
Zeekr comes from the parent company that also owns Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, LEVC and Lynk&Co and is set to launch its first models in Europe later this year, less than two years after it launched its first-ever car in China.
So far Zeekr X, an urban SUV, and Zeekr 001, a luxury shooting brake, have been confirmed for sale in Sweden and the Netherlands by the end of the year. However, Zeekr boss, former Lexus exec Spiros Fotinos has said that the brand plans to roll out in other European countries as soon as possible – and that could include the UK.
Both models have been specifically developed for Europe in Zeekr’s European R&D base, which is based in Gothenburg, Sweden alongside fellow Geely brands Volvo and Polestar. They both sit on the Geely SEA platform – used across the group – which with the right batteries on board could offer a range of over 350 miles.
Zeekr claims that it has closely analysed the pain points around European EV adoption and will be providing a 360-degree approach to overcome customers’ fears. Zeekr won’t be using traditional dealers, but will be selling directly to consumers.
The brand promises very high levels of quality, plus the latest connectivity, driver assistance and safety systems, all with over-the-air updates.
“European consumers are increasingly ready to make the shift to EVs and are more open than ever to new technology brands – especially ones purely focused on electric vehicles”, said Fotinos. “With the resources, knowledge and experience we’ve got behind us, Zeekr is well positioned to offer world-class EVs, innovative services and an exceptional experience that will make the transition to electric easier than ever, allowing us to contribute to a more sustainable future.”
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