Geely's new EV-only premium sub-brand Zeekr aims at Tesla
Arif · Mar 22, 2021 11:58 AM
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In an effort to take on Tesla, Geely has announced its plans to launch a new premium EV brand, “Zeekr”. Zeekr will be housed under LingLing Technologies (Geely’s to-be-launched EV entity).
Automotive News Europe reports that Zeekr is Geely’s new attempt to go up-market, and is in line with founder and chairman Li Shufu’s long-held ambition to make premium cars.
The brand's logo is yet to be revealed. What is known so far is that Zeekr will roll out models based on Geely’s open-source EV chassis, called the Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), announced in September 2020.
Zeekr is also considering rolling out a share ownership plan that allows customers to become shareholders of Lingling, which management hopes will boost sales and the relationship between brand and customers.
Departing from traditions to sell cars through dealerships, Geely will open showrooms or “hubs” in city centres to sell cars at a fixed price.
Geely is also planning a broad array of sales and marketing strategies to seek deeper relationships with the EV buyers. It will open lifestyle lines for clothing and accessories and launch a car owner's club.
Earlier this month, Geely had announced its plans to invest 4.6 billion USD for an EV battery factory in China. Geely’s investment in EVs is almost equivalent to that of European manufacturer, Volkswagen.
Previously an engineer in an automotive manufacturing company and a highway concessionaire. A part-time research student on biofuels and diesel engines. Obsessed with vehicle electrification and the future of transportation.
