Zeekr, the electric car brand under Geely, has officially started production of its Zeekr 001 model for European customers. The first batch of Zeekr 001s rolled off the production line at the Zeekr plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on 2nd August, as reported by Chinese media. The company plans to ship the vehicles to Europe in mid-August, with deliveries expected later this year.
Despite this milestone, the exact number of units to be produced for the European market remains undisclosed. Similarly, the specific modifications made to the European model to obtain EU homologation have not been revealed. However, industry experts speculate that the charging standard has likely been adapted from the Chinese GB/T to the widely-used CCS2 standard in Germany.
See also: Zeekr Delivers Zeekr X Electric Vehicle to First Customers, Targets 40,000 Deliveries This Year
The first batch of #ZEEKR001 for Europe just rolled off the production line. pic.twitter.com/lQ09PzCRx5
— Zeekr (@ZeekrGlobal) August 3, 2023
In recent developments, Zeekr has already initiated pre-sales for the Zeekr 001 and Zeekr X in the Netherlands and Sweden, with a strategic plan to expand its presence to most countries in Western Europe by 2026. Alongside the production commencement for the European market, Zeekr has now officially named Germany, Norway, Denmark, and France as additional sales markets within Europe. The brand’s introduction in Sweden offers the Zeekr 001 at a starting price of 59,490 euros or 667,000 SEK, but the pricing for Germany is yet to be confirmed.
Zeekr unveiled its European strategy during Auto China in April, showcasing the Zeekr 001 and Zeekr X as its flagship models for the continent. The Zeekr 001, a striking Shooting Brake model with a length of almost five metres, marks the brand’s European debut and has already been available in China since October 2021. The Zeekr X, on the other hand, is a compact car with SUV features. However, it’s worth noting that the large premium van model, Zeekr 009, will not be introduced to the European market.
Both the Zeekr 001 and Zeekr X models are built on Geely’s all-electric SEA platform. The Zeekr 001 boasts a 100 kWh battery combined with a 200 kW rear-wheel drive system, providing an impressive WLTP range of up to 620 kilometres. Additionally, there is an option for a dual-motor variant with 400 kW of power. The Zeekr X, offering at least 200 kW of power, comes equipped with a 69 kWh battery and delivers up to 440 WLTP kilometres. The Zeekr X shares its roots with the Smart #1 model.
