China, which is seeking to reduce its polluting emissions and dependence on foreign oil, aims to sell about 20 percent of electric or hybrid vehicles by 2025.
The Chinese electric market, particularly dynamic, has seen the birth in recent years of dozens of local brands that compete with the American Tesla and other foreign manufacturers.
Zeekr, which has been marketing vehicles in China since 2021 and is targeting the high-end niche, is the latest local brand to look at the overseas market.
By the end of 2023, two models will be sold in Sweden and the Netherlands for sale in other European countries, Zeekr said Tuesday at the opening of the Shanghai Motor Show (until April 27).
One of these models, the Zeekr 001, whose design is reminiscent of the Porsche Panamera, has a range of 600 kilometers, according to the manufacturer.
Zeekr's European headquarters will be based in Amsterdam (Netherlands), said the brand, which already has a research and development center in Europe in Gothenburg (Sweden).
Zeekr's parent company is China's Geely, whose boss Li Shufu is one of the main shareholders of Germany's Mercedes-Benz Group.
Unknown outside China, Geely achieved a masterstroke in 2010 by buying the iconic Swedish brand Volvo for $ 1.5 billion.
Geely, one of China's largest private car manufacturers, became in 2017 the majority shareholder of the iconic British sports cars Lotus, then of the American start-up Terrafugia, specialist in flying cars.
To strengthen its position in Europe in the electric segment, Geely had already launched with Volvo the Lynk&Co brand, which targets a young and connected clientele.
© 2023 AFP