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Young Chinese EV brand ZEEKR is looking to significantly expand its sales and global footprint in 2023, according to an internal letter outlining several of the Geely-owned marque’s goals. In addition to introducing two new EV models this year, ZEEKR is planning to enter key markets in Europe. It makes us wonder if the US could soon be next.

Having only been founded in 2021, ZEEKR remains a young luxury EV automotive brand in China existing under the Geely umbrella. Sales so far have only included the brand’s first EV model called the 001.

It will be followed by a multipurpose vehicle (MPV) called the 009, which ZEEKR just began rolling off its assembly lines in China earlier this month. After reporting promising quarterly numbers midway through 2022, ZEEKR announced it had capped off the fiscal year above its sales target of 70,000 units.

Looking ahead to 2023, the young automaker looks to double those numbers on the wings of two new EVs in addition to the two mentioned above. Furthermore, ZEEKR appears to be making good on its promise to enter Europe sooner rather than later. Here’s the latest.

  • ZEEKR Europe

Peek at ZEEKR’s new EV, plus plans for Europe – is the US next?

According to an internal letter to staff obtained by CnEVPost, ZEEKR CEO Andy An believes China’s EV market will be especially competitive in 2023. To face these impending challenges in the industry, An laid out five key tasks for the ZEEKR team, including entry into Europe and 140,000 EVs deliveries. Per An’s letter:

The 140,000-unit delivery goal will be a hard battle, and we have to accomplish that mission.

A huge factor in doubling its deliveries compared to 2022 will be the two new EVs ZEEKR has planned, one of which can be seen above, thanks to images obtained by CnEVPost. The original post said ZEEKR is using the code-name BX1E for its third EV model and speculated that it could be named the 003. However, Geely senior vice president, Yang Xueliang, took to Weibo to confirm this is, in fact, ZEEKR’s third EV but that it will not necessarily be named the 003.

BX1E has not yet been registered with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s vehicle catalog, but the EV is expected to make its debut at the Shanghai Auto Show this April. Another task in trying to stand out among the competition this year will be bolstering intelligence technology, including smart cockpits and driving assistance.

According to An:

This year, our continued high investment in R&D will enter a period of bearing fruit and teams will have to accelerate to get the technology into application.

An’s fourth task is ZEEKR’s strategy for entering Europe. An did not specifically mention where ZEEKR’s invasion of Europe will begin but did state the brand intends to “create value in the world’s most mature automotive markets.” Germany stands out as a mature market in the EU, but smaller more EV-centric countries where other Chinese automakers have begun sales make sense as well. This includes territories like Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

This move to Europe is something we’ve been anticipating for quite some time now, considering ZEEKR said as much in January of 2022 during the launch of the 001 sedan. At the time, ZEEKR said it expects its total overseas exports (Europe and beyond) to reach 100,000 vehicles by 2025 alongside seven branded EV models by that same time.

Parent company Geely has even bigger plans for ZEEKR, previously stating it expects the luxury EV brand to contribute approximately 650,000 units to its annual sales every year by 2025.

We probably won’t see it in 2023, but with ZEEKR’s quick sales growth and expansion to Europe imminent, entry into North America feels like a natural next step. An even hinted at it back in early 2022 as well:

North America is in our plan for the next step. That will happen after 2022.

Since then, ZEEKR has confidentially filed for an IPO on the US stock market, seeking a valuation over $10 billion. It could go public as early as Q2 of this year, so that will be something to keep an eye on.

Last but not least, An’s fifth task for ZEEKR employees is to optimize internal management, optimizing for efficiency in order to transcend the automaker from “sloppy growth to high-quality development.”

We will keep eyes on ZEEKR as we approach the Shanghai Auto Show and its pending entry into Europe. More is sure to come as 2023 is making to be a crucial year for EV companies like this one.

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This $11,000 Chinese EV with semi-solid state batteries is about shake up the industry

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This ,000 Chinese EV with semi-solid state batteries is about shake up the industry

An electric vehicle powered by semi-solid state batteries for around $11,000? Sounds like a game changer. This Chinese automaker claims to be launching the first mass-market EV sold globally with new semi-solid state batteries.

An affordable Chinese EV with solid-state batteries

The new MG4 is set to debut next month, featuring advanced new battery tech. MG’s brand manager, Chen Cui, confirmed “the new battery, supplied by QinTao Energy, contains only 5% electrolyte.”

According to MG, the semi-solid-state EV battery delivers a CLTC driving range of up to 537 km (334 miles) with an energy density rating of 180 Wh/kg. It also outperforms LFP batteries in cold weather (–7°C) by 13.8%.

Chen explained that the new MG4 will launch at a competitive price. Although he didn’t offer specifics, Chen hinted that it will be on par with the BYD Dolphin, at around 80,000 yuan ($11,000) to 120,000 yuan ($16,500), adding, “there is no reason customers wouldn’t choose the MG4.”

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MG says the new MG4 will draw power from a 70 kWh battery pack. A rear-wheel-drive (RWD) powertrain option will be available with 161 horsepower (120 kW).

Chinese-EV-solid-state-batteries
MG4 electric hatch (Source: SAIC MG)

BYD’s popular Dolphin electric hatch is offered with two LFP Blade Battery options: 44.9 kWh and 60.48 kWh, good for 420 km (261 mi) and 520 km (323 mi) of CLTC driving range.

The new MG4 is slightly bigger than the Dolphin, measuring 4,395 mm in length, 1,842 mm in width, with a wheelbase of 2,750 mm. In comparison, BYD’s electric hatch is 4,280 mm in length, 1,770 mm in width, with a wheelbase of 2,700 mm.

MG’s new EV will also feature its new smart cockpit system (MG x Oppo), co-developed with Chinese electronics company Oppo.

On July 14, the first new MG4 model rolled off the production line at SAIC’s Nanjing plant, with its official debut coming up on August 5.

Electrek’s Take

The new MG4 could shake things up in China and in overseas markets, offering long-range capabilities and advanced new tech at an affordable price.

As China’s EV price war intensifies, largely driven by BYD, automakers are looking to overseas markets to drive growth this year.

MG is already one of the top-selling Chinese auto brands globally. It also ranked first in retail sales in China, delivering over 2 million vehicles in the first six months of 2025.

The new MG4, powered by semi-solid-state batteries, marks the first step in MG’s new energy strategy. It arrives as many automakers and other companies are advancing new battery technology, promising significantly higher energy density, longer driving ranges, and more.

BYD, CATL, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Stellantis, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and many others are all chasing the “holy grail” of EV batteries.

Source: CarNewsChina, SAIC MG

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Inmotion launches 50 MPH commuter electric scooter. Would you ride it?

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Inmotion launches 50 MPH commuter electric scooter. Would you ride it?

Inmotion has unveiled its latest high-performance electric scooter, the Jet, and it’s shaping up to be a serious contender for riders who want both speed and commuter utility in one package. With a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) and dual 1,200W motors peaking at 2,300W, the Jet is one of the highest-performance electric scooters available in the ~$2k price range.

Power is supplied to the dual motors by a built-in 72V 25Ah lithium-ion battery, offering up to a claimed 56 miles (90 km) of range on a single charge. That 1.8 kWh battery is quite large for an e-scooter, though the bigger the battery, the longer the charge time. In this case, the company says the scooter has a typical charge time of around 9 to 10 hours. While not the fastest-charging setup out there, it seems to offer plenty of juice for full-day riding if topped off overnight.

The Jet also comes with serious stopping power, thanks to dual hydraulic disc brakes – a key feature for any fast and powerful scooter. Riding comfort is improved by an 11-inch tubeless tire setup and full suspension design. Up front, a swingarm suspension design smooths out potholes, while the rear features hydraulic shocks to keep the ride stable and responsive even at higher speeds. The rear shock can be quickly adjusted to change the ride style, allowing riders to dial in their handling for roads or trails.

A large 4.3-inch color touchscreen is mounted on the handlebars and serves as the rider’s command center, displaying speed, battery status, and ride modes. Physical buttons still exist for common inputs like ride modes, but the touchscreen allows riders to scroll through long menus of adjustable parameters and view vehicle information.

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The scooter also includes built-in turn signals in the handlebar ends, brake lights, and a headlight, helping it stay visible in traffic at night. It’s all wrapped up in a foldable aluminum frame, which makes it possible to stash the Jet in a car trunk, though at 90 pounds (41 kg), it’s far from lightweight and might be a bit tricky to lift all the way into that car trunk.

According to Voromotors, the only authorized US distributor for the scooter, the Inmotion Jet carries an IPX6 water resistance rating, meaning it can handle wet rides without worry, and it’s rated for riders up to 330 pounds (150 kg).

At $2,299, the Jet isn’t aiming for the budget market, but it delivers a fast and furious package for riders who want real-world performance mixed with commuter-friendly features.

Electrek’s Take

Here we go. I know these scooters are divisive, and I absolutely get it. When I covered a 100 mph (160 km/h) electric scooter the other day, that was definitely over the top. At 50 mph (80 km/h), scooters like the InMotion Jet here are approaching the top, though I’m not prepared to say they’re “too fast.” Like many things, it’s all about the time and the place. And in this case, also the protective gear. I’ve written before about how I recommend gearing up even when riding something “tame” like an electric bicycle, and this is absolutely a much more dangerous option, meaning you should be wearing full body gear on something like this scooter. As we say in motorcycling, “Dress for the slide, not for the ride.”

There’s also the question of legality, which isn’t as cut and dry as it is for e-bikes with their widely-accepted three-class system. Electric scooter regulations vary considerably more from state to state, and even more at local city levels. So you’ll have to confirm whether a scooter like this is legal in your area.

But just judging the scooter by itself on its own merits, I’d say the Inmotion Jet brings serious performance to the table without losing sight of everyday usability. It’s powerful enough for thrill-seekers but also includes the kind of thoughtful touches like turn signals, adjustable suspension, and a bright display that make it practical for commuting. I’m more of a “why stand when you could sit” guy when it comes to my commuter vehicles, but I still enjoy a fast and fun e-scooter, too. And in a market filled with lightweight last-mile scooters or overly bulky off-road tanks, the Jet seems like it strikes a decent middle ground.

Just please be safe and courteous out there. Don’t go ripping down bike lanes on a vehicle that should absolutely be used in the road, at least when traveling at speeds over bicycle norms.

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This Volkswagen ID.Buzz cost its owner $11,000 in just 398 miles

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This Volkswagen ID.Buzz cost its owner ,000 in just 398 miles

That high-end luxury vehicles that trade on being new and shiny take massive depreciation hits as soon as they roll off the lot is a lasting truth in the car business. At least one VW buyer is finding that out the hard way, having just watched their 1st Edition 4Motion ID.Buzz sell at auction for more than $11,000 under MSRP with just 398 miles on it.

At least.

After teasing a modern Bus for nearly two decades (the ID.Buzz was introduced as a concept at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show, and was the fourth Type 2 Bus- or Bulli-inspired concept from VW since 2001), Volkswagen had high hopes for the all electric minivan. Unfortunately price-gouging dealer markups and a drastic over-estimation of the van’s lasting cultural impact more than twenty years after the launch of the first-generation New Beetle and a hefty $70,000+ price tag conspired against its mainstream success.

The good news, if there’s any to be had, is that early “flippers” are getting badly burned – and, while there’s no indication that the owner of this particular ID.Buzz was hoping to get an early example of a hot car from a dealer and flip it for a profit, their experience could and should serve as a warning to others.

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The van, itself


The van was listed on BringaTrailer.com (all photos, above, are from the listing), and sold last week for $61,500. The included window sticker, which is typically considered a “must-have” for car collectors, shows initial delivery to Fremont Volkswagen of Casper, Wyoming, and lists all the features and equipment that brings the final sticker price to a staggering $72,385.

For that price, VW saw fit to throw in a set of woven floor mats. But, in fairness, the reality of this could have been much, much worse for the original buyer.

$35,000 dealer markup


Markup Madness Hits The Volkswagen ID. Buzz Bus
VW San Bernadino screencap; via HotCars.

Back in December, Hot Cars ran a story about Volkswagen of San Bernadino marking up a nearly identical 1st Edition ID.Buzz from its $72,668 sticker to a jaw-dropping $107,668 – fully $35,000 of dealership price-gouging markup, despite calls from VW corporate pleading with its dealer body to not do that.

“McKenna Volkswagen Cerritos has another 1st Edition listed for $97,815. That’s still $25,000 added on top of the MSRP for no reason,” wrote Amanda Clein, back in December. “No matter where you look, the electric bus is marked up at a bunch of dealerships. King Volkswagen in Maryland has one 1st Edition available. This one is finished in a cool orange color but is still being subject to a $10,000 markup”

No word yet on whether this particular van gets the three year Electrify America charging deal, or whether the rear seat still has the original, “pre-recall” rear seating configuration, but at least this much is certain: if you participated in a cynical, ID.Buzz-shaped cash grab in recent months, it probably cost you big time.

May the ghost of Woodstocks past forgive you for even trying.

SOURCE | MORE IMAGES: BringaTrailer.com, via Carscoops.


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