The Chinese manufacturer Zeekr, still little known to the general public in France, displays its European ambitions. As part of a press conference devoted to its 2022 results, the premium manufacturer which belongs to the Geely group (Lotus, Volvo, Link&Co) announces a new electric sedan, the CS1E, to compete with the Tesla Model 3, and wishes to penetrate the European markets from winter 2023.
“The brand will launch a new model every six months as part of an expansion plan to reach 650,000 units sold per year by 2025”Zeekr CEO An Conghui said at the conference. “Brand development in Europe by the end of 2023 and in the United States in 2024 will contribute to its growth. Zeekr is a well-established product in China, but it will expand rapidly in international markets, which is our original objective”he added.
Last year, 71,941 units of the Zeekr 001 were sold in China. As a reminder, this model is equipped with CATL batteries of 80, 100 and 140 kWh for ranges ranging from 546 to 1032 km, according to the very optimistic Chinese CLTC approval cycles. Figures that we are not able to verify at the moment. “By 2025, we will have eight models, to reach 650,000 units. We think it is achievable”said the CEO.
Zeekr currently sells the 001 and 009 MPV in the Chinese market. Deliveries of the new Zeekr X, a compact SUV, will begin in the third quarter.
The new sedan, code CS1E (for “compact sedan first-generation electric”), should be longer than the X and would be able to compete with the Tesla Model 3. The CEO did not specify which models would be launched in Europe , but 001, X and CS1E seem the most likely. Sweden and the Netherlands would be the first markets concerned.