GEELY offshoot Zeekr is the latest Chinese car-maker set to enter Australia in concert with its plans to sell in six new markets in Europe by the end of this year.

It is now producing right-hand drive models of its ‘X’ SUV and 009 people mover, with sales to start in the third quarter of this year in Thailand and then other south-east Asian markets. 

Zeekr this week appointed automotive industry marketing specialist Andrew Haurissa as its head of marketing for Australia and New Zealand, based in Sydney. It has also signalled it is seeking other management people.

Andrew Haurissa

The company has plans to enter other right-hand drive markets including Australia as early as the second half of 2024.

As part of its global expansion, Zeekr is targeting the premium end of the EV market to compete with niche players including its cousins, Volvo and Polestar.

It has also adopted a ‘family tree’ approach to sharing technology that is very similar to Volkswagen Group. 

Volkswagen has 10 automotive brands, each sharing components including with its sub-brands for commercial vehicles and EVs. It also has a heavy-vehicle division (Traton) and Ducati motorcycles.

Zeekr is the premium battery electric vehicle (BEV) unit of China’s Geely Holding which also owns Volvo Cars, Polestar, Lotus Cars, Lynk & Co (also Chinese and with plans for an Australian presence), Proton and London EV Company.

It manufactures in China in left-hand drive format and is now producing right-hand drive cars. It is currently manufacturing the Zeekr 009 and Zeekr X.

The Geely group, including subsidiaries and joint ventures, increased global sales 20 per cent to 2.8 million vehicles last year.

Geely president An Conghui, speaking at the China EV100 Forum in Beijing earlier this month, said Zeekr planned to launch sales in six new European countries this year including Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany.

He said Europe was like Geely’s “second home market” because of its base for brands including Volvo, Lotus and taxi-maker London EV.

He said Geely Group vehicles “would soon” be available in 38 countries including in south-east Asia and the Middle East.

He also confirmed that Geely “aspires to become like Volkswagen in the era of new energy vehicles” by adopting the German group multi-brand strategy.

Zeekr sales last year rose 65 per cent to 118,685 vehicles, short of its target of 140,000, while cumulative sales since operations began reached 197,000.

At the end of 2023, the company unveiled a new range of fast-charging lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) batteries which are less expensive than current lithium-ion packs and also safer and longer lasting.