Chinese electric vehicle startup Zeekr has big plans for the future. At the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show, the company officially unveiled its global strategy, with a particular focus on establishing a presence in Western Europe and becoming a leading brand in the electric vehicle market.
To achieve this goal, Zeekr’s Vice President responsible for European operations, Spiros Fotinos, presented the company’s three pillars of their European strategy: excellent products, one-stop service, and direct sales models. Under this direct sales model, Zeekr will own all of its sales and delivery centers, avoiding third-party dealers. This strategy has proven successful in China, where the company already has over 280 offline stores and showrooms in 70 cities.
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The first Zeekr stores in Europe are set to open in Stockholm and Amsterdam in 2023, with the first deliveries scheduled to begin this year. The first Zeekr EV in Europe will be the 001 fastback SUV, and the company has already launched its new European website with Swedish and Dutch versions presenting Zeekr 001 and the new Zeekr X SUV. While pre-orders are not yet active, the company aims to double its deliveries to 140,000 units in 2023.
In China, Zeekr is already a well-established brand with a strong presence, and the company has big plans for growth. By the end of April, Zeekr is expected to deliver its 100,000th EV in China, and the company aims to double its deliveries to 140,000 units in 2023. The 001 SUV is currently the company’s most popular model, but the recent launch of the 009 MPV has expanded the company’s offerings.
Spiros Fotinos, an ex-Lexus veteran who spent 24 years with Toyota, will be responsible for the company’s European expansion. Zeekr’s global CEO, Andy An, has previously stated that the company aims to enter the US market in 2024 and sell 650,000 EVs in Europe by 2025.
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Zeekr was established in 2021 as an independent brand under Geely Holding, which also owns Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, and Lynk&Co. The company filed for a US IPO in December 2022, and it seems poised for significant growth and success in the coming years. With its innovative direct sales model and commitment to excellent products and customer service, Zeekr is a company to watch in the ever-growing electric vehicle market.
