Zeekr’s Debut in Right-Hand Drive Markets: Hong Kong and Macau in 2024
Zeekr‘s expansion into right-hand drive markets is poised to commence with the debut of distribution partners in South China’s Greater Bay Area introducing left-hand drive Zeekr models in Macau shortly before the launch of the right-hand drive variants.
Geely Holding Group’s premium electric vehicle (EV) subsidiary, Zeekr, is gearing up for its initial foray into the right-hand drive markets of Hong Kong and Macau in the coming year, marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy.
Planned for the second half of 2024, Zeekr will introduce the Zeekr X city SUV and Zeekr 009 MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) in Hong Kong and Macau. The company aims to establish three showrooms in Hong Kong and one in Macau, as reported by Bloomberg, citing a company representative.
Hong Kong and Macau will be the first markets to experience Zeekr’s right-hand-drive models, with continued evaluation for potential entry into other right-hand-drive markets such as the UK and Japan, according to Zeekr.
The South China Greater Bay Area’s distribution partner, Kam Lung Motor Group, will lead the launch of left-hand-drive Zeekr models in Macau ahead of the introduction of right-hand-drive versions, the representative confirmed in the report.
Zeekr, established in 2021, initiated its lineup with the Zeekr 001 launched on April 15, 2021, followed by deliveries commencing in October 2021 in China.
The Zeekr 009, the company’s second model, was made available for sale on November 1, 2022, with deliveries starting on January 15. The third model, the Zeekr X, was unveiled on April 12, and deliveries began on June 12.
In April, Zeekr outlined its European strategy during the Shanghai auto show, with initial market entries planned in the Netherlands and Sweden. Pre-sales for the Zeekr 001 and Zeekr X commenced in these countries on June 27.
An agreement with Israeli distributor Union Group was announced on July 10, enabling Zeekr’s entry into Israel, with pre-sales and deliveries of the Zeekr 001 and Zeekr X scheduled to start in the fourth quarter.
Zeekr anticipates extending its international presence to six countries by 2024 and eight by 2025, as disclosed by the company in late August.
The latest data released earlier this month indicates that Zeekr delivered 12,053 vehicles in September, reflecting a 45.64 percent year-on-year increase but a 2.03 percent decrease from August.
For the January-September period, Zeekr’s cumulative deliveries reached 79,028 vehicles, showing a substantial 100.20 percent surge compared to the same period last year. The company aims to double its deliveries this year, targeting around 140,000 vehicles.