Posted on 21 Oct 2024
Chinese premium EV brand Zeekr is entering the Australian market with its Zeekr X, marking its expansion into Oceania, Kallanish learns.
The company owned by Geely Holding started deliveries of the battery electric SUV on 15 October. The vehicle starts at AUD 56,900 ($38,172).
At the launch event in Sydney, Zeekr also demonstrated the Zeekr 009 model, an all-electric multi-purpose vehicle. It plans to have six pop-up stores in Australia, across five states including New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland by year-end.
The two models will also be launched in New Zealand later this year, with a mid-size SUV, Zeekr 7X, to be launched in Australia next year.
Connal Yan, managing director of Zeekr Australia, told Reuters that the two BEVs garnered more than 2,500 expressions of interest. He hopes that this initial interest will materialise and pave the way for Oceania to become one of its biggest overseas markets alongside Southeast Asia and Latin America.
The executive also expects Australia’s new vehicle efficiency standards, which are taking effect in 2025, to further help drive EV demand in the country. The lack of local car manufacturing and trade tariffs on Chinese brands makes Australia an attractive market for Chinese manufacturers.
Zeekr has entered over 35 international markets.
Source:Kallanish
