Chinese EV maker ZEEKR has ambitious plans in Europe over the next several years. The EV maker’s European head, Spiros Fotinos, says ZEEKR wants to be among the top three premium pure EV makers by the end of the decade.
Established by the parent company Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, or simply Geely, in April 2021, ZEEKR is moving quickly to expand its brand name in the premium space.
Shortly after, the brand’s first model, the ZEEKR 001, began rolling off the assembly line that October. Zeekr claims its new 2023 ZEEKR 001 is the longest-cruising EV with over 620 miles (1,032 km) cruising range powered by CATL’s third-generation cell-to-pack “Qiling” batteries.
The Chinese EV startup followed it up by releasing its second electric model, the 009 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), with three rows of seating and up to 510 miles (822 km) CLTC range.
It was initially believed ZEEKR’s third EV would be called the 003. However, the brand launched its first electric SUV in China last month, calling it the ZEEKR X.
Powered by two electric motors and a 66 kWh battery, the electric SUV delivers up to 422 hp (315 kW) and 400 lb-ft (543 Nm) of torque for a range upwards of 348 miles (560 km).
ZEEKR says it will begin delivering X models in China in June, followed by Europe and other Asian markets outside China.
According to ZEEKR’s Europe CEO, the brand aims to expand into the region as a top pure EV player.
We want to be one of the top three premium pure-EV players by the end of the decade. That’s our ambition.
According to Fotinos, the EV startup will accomplish this through “product and customer experience,” offering a “one-stop-shop” approach for EV customers, including charging, financing, insurance, maintenance packages, and more to make it easy for buyers to go electric.
When asked who the “top three will be Tesla, Zeekr – and who else?” Fortinos replied, “Tesla will probably be there,” but seemed more concerned with German premium brands. He added:
The German premiums occupy around 60 to 75 percent of the market, so if you cannot conquest from there, you are not going to grow very much.
ZEEKR has several advantages over other EV startups with backing and manufacturing support from Geely. On top of this, the company was “born pure EV,” so it doesn’t have to spend time and resources transitioning over. Geely also owns Volvo and Polestar, which are both accelerating EV sales in Europe.
Fotinos says the brand will begin its European campaign in the Netherlands and Sweden, rapidly expanding in the rest of Western Europe through 2026.
Although ZEEKR hasn’t yet certified its specs, he expects the 001 to have around 373 miles (600 km) range and the X around 273 miles (440 km) in Europe, with fast charging abilities from 10% to 80% in 30 minutes.
Electrek’s Take
Can ZEEKR become a top three premium EV maker in Europe? As Fotinos said, they will first have to win over the German premium customers, but it may not be an impossible task.
China’s leading EV maker, BYD, surpassed Volkswagen to become China’s best-selling brand as demand for zero-emission electric continues climbing.
Perhaps, more importantly, new information from the German statistics office shows the number of EVs shipped to Germany from China tripled over the last year. Over 28% of Germany’s EV imports in the first three months were from China, compared with just 7.8% last year.
Buyers are beginning to look past the brand name for the latest tech and software. What do you guys think? Does ZEEKR have a place in the premium EV market? Let us know in the comments.
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Tested: Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 portable power station brings ample support in a smaller and lighter unit
Anker is hands-down one of the most well-known tech accessory brands with an extensive lineup of consumer electronics, and its SOLIX sub-brand has making waves in the portable backup power solution space. Its C1000 power station made big waves when it first hit the market in 2023, quickly becoming a popular charging solution for camping and other outdoor activities, in particular. Now, two years later, the Anker has introduced its SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station, which I was lucky enough to snag and test out, and which I believe will outshine its predecessor in the long run. Head below to get my hands-on impressions of this all-new solar generator.
To get our full hands-on impression of this new portable backup power solution, be sure to check out our review here.
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Rad Power’s Haul-o-ween Sale offers up to $210 in FREE cargo or starter gear with new and legacy e-bikes starting from $1,399
Rad Power Bikes has launched its Haul-o-ween Sale, with a $200 discount on its RadRover 6 Plus e-bike, as well as several other models (new and legacy) getting up to $210 in FREE bundle kits and accessories. Amongst the models seeing bundles attached, you’ll find the Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike getting a free $199 cargo kit at $1,999 shipped, with its Radster Road Commuter e-bike sibling getting the same kit for $1,999 shipped too. Just be sure to add the e-bikes and the cargo kits (all from the same landing pages) to your cart for the discount to automatically be applied. Originally going for $2,199 at full price since their release in March, we saw the brand officially drop prices to these rates mid-August, with the deals here giving you the continued lowest tracked prices alongside the free gear. Head below to learn more and browse the full lineup of deals while the sale lasts.
The stylish new Radster Trail and Radster Road e-bikes are very similar in their overall designs, with slight differences based on where you plan to spend most of your time riding – down streets or through trails and other off-road areas. They both come boasting 100Nm torque-producing 750W rear hub motors with 720Wh Safe Shield semi-integrated batteries powering them. This combination provides you with up to 65+ miles of pedal-assisted travel (supported by a torque sensor) at up to 20/28 MPH top speeds, depending on state-specific laws. Among the other shared features, you’ll be gaining hydraulic disc brakes, hydraulic suspension forks, auto-on headlights, brake-activated taillights, turn signaling functionality, rear cargo racks, a color display with a Type-C port, and more.
There are also the shared smart features here, which include passcode locking, an included security fob, and more. Where these models differ, as you may already be able to guess, is mainly in their tires. The Trail model bringing along 27.5-inch by 3-inch Kenda Havoc puncture-resistant tires for your off-roading fun, while the Road model has been equipped with 29-inch by 2.2-inch Kenda Kwik puncture-resistant tires, as well as some differing fender/handlebar designs too.
Rad Power Bikes Haul-o-ween discounts:
Rad Power Bikes Haul-o-ween bundle/accessory deals:
Upgrade your security with up to $280 in exclusive savings on Anker eufy cameras and smart locks at new lows from $70
We’ve secured quite the lineup of exclusive deals for our readers from Wellbots on Anker eufy security devices, with most at new low prices, like the SoloCam S340 Solar Security Camera at $109.99 shipped, after using the exclusive code 9TO5EUF90 at checkout. Normally, this model runs for $200 at full price, which we’ve seen drop as low as $123 this year, while last year saw things fall lower to $120 during Cyber Monday sales. While these exclusive savings last, you’ll be getting $90 taken off the tag, landing it at a new all-time low price. Head below to learn more about this device and the others benefiting from exclusive discounts.
Heybike’s premium Hero carbon fiber mid-drive and rear hub all-terrain e-bikes at new lows from $2,099
As part of its ongoing Prime Fall e-bike Sale, which has given us new low prices on the ALPHA all-terrain and Hauler cargo e-bikes, Heybike has also dropped the price lower-than-ever on its Hero Carbon-Fiber All-Terrain e-bikes too. You can find the 1,000W rear hub model down at $2,099 shipped, while its upgraded 750W mid-drive model is sitting at $2,299 shipped. These are some of the brand’s higher-end EVs, which normally go for $2,599 and $3,099 at full price, and which have mostly received $100 to $300 discounts over the year, save for select events, like its anniversary sale, where we saw things go lower to $2,199 and $2,499. Now the savings are bigger and better than ever, as the $500 and $800 markdowns here land the costs at new all-time low prices.
Bring home Autel’s 40A MaxiCharger AC Lite level 2 EV charging station with an AI voice assistant for $379
Through its official Amazon storefront, Autel is dropping costs on its MaxiCharger AC Lite Home 40A Smart AI Level 2 EV Charger to $379 shipped in both colorway options. This is an at-home charging solution that normally runs for $470 at full price, with regular discounts to $399 over the year, and only one-time falls to $376 and the $352 low, which appeared back during Memorial Day sales. You can pick it up here at only $3 more than July’s Prime Day rate, saving you $91 off the going rate for the third-lowest price we have tracked.
Review: Ride1Up’s Revv1 DRT e-bike is a rugged off-roader with plenty of suspension and hidden punch
When it comes to e-bikes, most people’s immediate thought is a commuter model designed to get you through streets to your various destinations, but with Ride1Up’s Revv1 DRT e-bike, the fun is extended (and primarily focused) to off-road adventures, and boy, does this baby have some go in it. It’s been over two years since we reviewed the Revv1 FS counterpart, which we came away quite impressed with its SUPER73-like design. Now we’re heading off the beaten path with this newer off-road variant, which boasts improved specs that outshine its predecessors in the series.
The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.
It’s a good thing the new 2026 LEAF should be here any day. The recall affects over 19,000 Nissan LEAF vehicles, model years 2021-2022, because the battery may overheat during fast charging. Here’s the fix.
Nissan LEAF recall impacts 19,000+ vehicles
Nissan’s OG, the LEAF, has been hit with yet another recall. In a letter sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on October 2, Nissan announced a recall of 19,077 LEAF models from 2021 to 2022.
The recall only affects models that are equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. Nissan said the battery may overheat during fast charging.
After an investigation, Nissan found that LEAF models built between November 3, 2020, and May 23, 2022, at its Smyrna Assembly plant, may have an issue with excessive lithium deposits within the battery cells. If that happens, the increased electrical resistance can cause the battery to overheat or catch fire during Level 3 charging.
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Nissan is preparing a software update to fix the issue. Once it’s ready, Nissan said owners of affected vehicles will be notified with an “Invitation to Repair Owner” letter, which will include further instructions.
2025 Nissan LEAF (Source Nissan)
The letters are expected to be mailed out, starting on October 24, 2025. Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Until it’s ready, Nissan is urging owners not to use Level 3 quick charging.
For those with LEAF models that are no longer under warranty, Nissan will include instructions in the owner notification letters concerning reimbursement.
2025 Nissan LEAF (Source Nissan)
Owners can contact Nissan’s customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan’s recall number is R25C8. You can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit the nhtsa.gov website for more information.
2026 Nissan LEAF (Source: Nissan
The outgoing LEAF has had several major recalls now, but the third-generation model, set to hit dealerships any day now, promises to fix some of its biggest issues.
Nissan claims the 2026 LEAF has “the lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale in the US” at just $29,990. It also has a fresh, new crossover SUV-like design, over 300 miles of driving range, and an NACS port (finally) to access Tesla Superchargers.
While Nissan focuses on the new LEAF, its electric SUV, the Ariya, will not be offered in the US for the 2026 model year.
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Tesla has officially launched the Cybertruck in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as the automaker seeks to expand the electric pickup truck’s availability in new markets following disappointing demand in the US.
For its first year of production, Cybertruck was limited to the North American market, and it has been a commercial flop.
Tesla had accumulated over 1 million reservations for the vehicle and planned for a production capacity of 250,000 units per year, with CEO Elon Musk saying that it could be increased to 500,000 units.
After Tesla unveiled the production version with a much higher price than initially announced and a significantly shorter range, demand plummeted, and now Tesla is struggling to sell the truck at a rate of 25,000 units per year – a tenth of the production capacity.
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Over the past few months, the automaker has been expanding Cybertruck availability to select overseas markets in an effort to utilize a portion of its unused production capacity.