The first European Zeekr 001 leaves production line

Geely Holding Group, the multifaceted automotive titan from China, is a step closer to getting an even bigger foothold in Europe. Its premium electric vehicle brand, Zeekr, has just unveiled the first Zeekr 001 models designed specifically for Europe. Fresh off the assembly line and set to hit European roads before the year's end, Zeekr is about to shake up the local EV market.

The official celebrations took place at Zeekr's state-of-the-art plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on August 2. The freshly minted vehicles are expected to embark on their European voyage from the port of Taicang, Jiangsu province, in mid-August. All this is happening a little over 100 days after Zeekr announced its grand European strategy.

Here's a little nugget to impress your friends: Zeekr's Ningbo factory boasts an all-robot welding process and a colossal 7,200-ton integrated die-casting machine.

The initial European recipients of the Zeekr 001 will be Sweden and the Netherlands, starting in the fourth quarter of this year. After these two countries, Zeekr's expansion plans include making inroads into Norway, Germany, Denmark, and France. Zeekr is also actively investigating other countries and regions.

Alongside the flagship Zeekr 001, European customers can also look forward to the Zeekr X urban SUV. Pre-sales for both models began in late June, with starting prices set at $69,690 and $52,710, respectively. The first Zeekr showrooms are projected to open in Stockholm and Amsterdam by the end of the year. As per Zeekr's timeline, most of Western Europe should see Zeekr stores by 2026.

Zeekr is not just stopping with Europe, though. The company has also set its sights on the Israeli market, joining forces with the Israeli distributor Union Group. Their collaborative goal is to establish a car distribution network in Israel, with pre-sales and subsequent deliveries of the Zeekr 001 and Zeekr X slated to commence in the fourth quarter.

In July, Zeekr reported record deliveries of 12,039 vehicles. This marked the second time this year that the company crossed the significant 10,000-deliveries threshold. While it's tempting to dismiss these numbers as the newbie's initial success, something tells us this isn't just beginner's luck.

Via