Zeekr started delivering the 001 model in October 2021 a vehicle originally planned to be launched by sister brand Lynk & Co.[1] In 2022, Zeekr delivered 71,941 Zeekr 001 to customers across more than 330 cities in China. Its subsidiary Zeekr Power covers more than 110 cities with over 660 stations[2] Zeekr, together with CEVT, developed Waymo's autonomous robotaxi.[3][4][5]
In 2023, Zeekr had three R&D facilities in China – Ningbo, Hangzhou, Shanghai as well as one in Gothenburg, Sweden.[6][7] Its global design center is also located in Gothenburg, Sweden.[8] Zeekr's European headquarters and sales office were moved from Gothenburg to Amsterdam due to higher concentration of experienced sales professionals.[9][10]
History
Zeekr was founded in March 2021 as a premium electric mobility brand for battery-powered vehicles by the Geely Group to compete against Nio and Tesla, among others. Its first model, the Zeekr 001 was officially launched in April 2021.[11] The Zeekr models are to be based on the SEA platform presented in autumn 2020.[12]
In December 2021, Geely announced that Zeekr would be collaborating with Waymo to develop and provide all-electric, autonomous ride-hailing vehicle for the Waymo One autonomous mobility service in the United States.[13] The vehicle integrated with Waymo's technology was unveiled in Los Angeles in November 2022.[14]
In January 2022, a cooperation between Zeekr and Mobileye was announced to expand their strategic technology partnership with a goal to deliver the world's first consumer autonomous vehicles with L4 capabilities by 2024[15][16]
In August 2022, Zeekr announced their cooperation with CATL, making them the first brand to use CATL's Qilin long range batteries for global mass production. The Zeekr 001 will be the first model to use the new batteries enabling them to have a pure electric range exceeding 1000 km.[17]
Zeekr raised $500 million in its first external fundraising from five investors including Intel Capital, CATL, Bilibili in August 2021. On February 13, 2023, Zeekr is valued at $13 billion after it raised $750 million from five investors.[18]
The name of the brand is made up of Generation Z and the term geek.[19]
Market availability
Zeekr first launched in China and starting expanding into Europe. Its first European showroom opened in Stockholm, Sweden in 2023.[20] Sweden, together with the Netherlands, were the first European markets which Zeekr entered in 2023.[21]
In 2024, the brand plans to expand into Denmark, Germany, France, Norway and Israel.[22]
M-Vision is built on SEA-M architecture to showcase the architecture's fundamental features such as expansive interior, open seat choice, and placement option, no B-pillar, and robust electrical/electronic (E/E) backbone supporting autonomous drive and connected devices.
M-Vision is a base model that can be developed for a range of future mobility products including robotaxis, multi-purpose vehicles, and logistics vehicles.[27]
Zeekr's factory is a self-proclaimed “smart, agile and connected” factory. It has a manufacturing capacity of up to 300,000 vehicles per year and can be expanded further.[31]
^"【图】再创新高 极氪汽车12月交付13476台_汽车之家" [Zeekr Motors reaches new heights and delivers 13,476 units in December]. Autohome. 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
