Premium Chinese electric vehicle maker Zeekr plans to expand into additional European markets in 2026, including France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain, and is considering launching extended-range plug-in hybrid models in the region, a company executive said on Friday.
“When we look at the European consumer demand, the plug-in hybrid segment still … has a high share,” Lothar Schupet, Zeekr’s acting head of European operations, told Reuters on the sidelines of the Brussels car show.
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Schupet said Zeekr, which is owned by China’s Geely, is currently assessing demand for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in Europe and expects to make a decision within the next few months.
Introducing PHEV models could help Zeekr mitigate the impact of European Union tariffs on Chinese-made fully electric vehicles, while also broadening its appeal in markets where consumers remain cautious about full electrification. In December, the EU softened its planned 2035 ban on new combustion-engine cars, a move that allows PHEVs — which combine a combustion engine with limited battery-only driving — to remain on sale for longer than previously expected.
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Zeekr currently operates in 12 European markets and launched in Germany in December. In some countries, the brand sells vehicles directly to consumers. Alongside entering new major markets, the company plans to more than triple its European dealer network to around 100 locations this year, up from about 30 currently, Schupet said.
Geely took Zeekr private last year. In China, Zeekr is often viewed as one of the group’s strongest assets due to its positioning in the premium electric vehicle segment. The company has already introduced plug-in hybrid variants of several models in the Chinese market, the world’s largest for electrified vehicles.
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Zeekr entered Europe just over two years ago and has so far recorded modest sales volumes. Schupet said the brand’s longer-term ambition is to scale its presence and establish itself as “a major player in the premium segment for sustainable mobility.”
Source: Reuters