China’s EV invasion of Europe continues as ZEEKR opens pre-orders in first two countries
Nearly six months to the day after revealing ambitious plans to enter new markets in Europe this year, ZEEKR has launched pre-orders for two of its three current EV models. The Chinese EV automaker will launch in two EU countries to begin as it shares a timeline to expand to even more of Western Europe.
ZEEKR is a EV-centric, wholly-owned sub-brand of parent company Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd. (Geely). In the two-plus years the young automaker has been in existence, it has already produced 100,000 EVs in China.
Those production numbers came on the wings of just two models, but a third recently joined the fold called the ZEEKR X – its first crack at an SUV. The X is one of two new models promised to debut this year, according to an ambitious internal letter sent out by ZEEKR CEO Andy An this past January.
One of the five key tasks laid out by An for 2023 was entry into new markets in Europe. This echoed a statement made by the company a year prior during the 001 launch, but we still were unaware where ZEEKR’s entry into Europe would begin.
In the letter, An stated the brand intends to “create value in the world’s most mature automotive markets.” At the time, we surmised that smaller, EV-centric countries in Europe where other Chinese automakers have already begun sales, made sense for ZEEKR. We mentioned territories like Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
Today, we have our answer. Hint – two of the countries we guessed are correct. It’s like we have ESPN or something!
ZEEKR officially enters Europe, beginning in Sweden, NL
Beginning today, ZEEKR has officially opened pre-orders for its 001 and X EVs in both Sweden and the Netherlands. ZEEKR’s new website is up and running, enabling consumers in the EU to place their new EV orders now.
The automaker states its EVs were jointly designed between its teams in China and Europe at ZEEKR’s global design center in Gothenburg, Sweden. Per ZEEKR:
Relying on the global superior resources of Geely Holding Group, Jikrypton is born in the world, and Europe is Jikrypton’s second home. The Jikr (ZEEKR) global design center located in Gothenburg, Sweden, endows Jikr products with international genes, and brings global users loyal to the original Jikr-style design that emphasizes luxury technology experience; Jikr European engineering R&D team has the world’s top design and engineering capabilities, Carry out localization verification for extremely krypton models.
Per ZEEKR, the 001 sedan will start at an MSRP of 59,490 euros ($64,765) and the X SUV will start at 44,990 euros ($49,000). The automaker intends to bring a luxury, one-stop experience to its new customers in Europe, vowing to deliver four key elements to each EV purchase: financial policy, energy replenishment systems, after-sales guarantee, and Internet of Vehicles.
Customers in Europe that place pre-orders today via direct sales models are expected to receive deliveries later this year. Those first two markets will also be the first to see brick-and-mortar stores in Stockholm and Amsterdam this year.
Lastly, ZEEKR said it intends to enter most of the markets in Western Europe by 2026. At the rate this automaker is moving so far, it could realistically beat that timeline.
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Honda is set to pull the covers off a new electric motorcycle on September 2, teasing the upcoming reveal with camouflaged images on the brand’s social media. The upcoming unveiling is sparking speculation that this could be one of the first models in Honda’s long-promised push into more powerful motorcycle electrification.
The teasers show the shape of a motorcycle with fairly conventional proportions, including a two-up seat, standard riding posture, single-sided rear swingarm, and no visible foot-forward scooter ergonomics, which suggests this will be an honest-to-goodness motorcycle rather than an e-scooter. The bodywork looks sporty but subdued, lacking the aggressive fairings of a supersport, which may point to a street-oriented commuter or naked bike. In fact, it looks a lot like the EV Fun Concept unveiled by Honda last October in Milan, seen above.
Street commuter bikes are common among electric motorcycle makers. They capitalize on the strengths of electric drivetrains without requiring the long range associated with touring motorcycles. It’s a move we’ve seen play out time and again among brands like Can-Am, Kawasaki, Ryvid, and others who have produced smaller, urban-focused electric motorcycles in the last few years.
This aligns with Honda’s previously stated plans. The company announced years ago that it would introduce at least 10 electric motorcycle models by 2025, ranging from commuter vehicles to high-performance machines. So far, its progress has been modest, with small-scale launches focused around electric scooters and prototype testbeds like the CR Electric motocross bike.
Whispers from Honda have hinted at an upcoming street bike, and some observers believe this new model could be the production version of that EV Fun Concept from EICMA Milan Motorcycle Show. Whether it uses Honda’s swappable batteries like the EM1 e: remains to be seen, but it’s likely to target daily riders in urban markets rather than aiming for long-range touring or high-speed sport performance.
Honda has been characteristically cautious in its entry into the electric space, especially compared to startup rivals and brands like Zero, LiveWire, and Ryvid. But the September 2 reveal may signal a new chapter as the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer finally takes electric motorcycles more seriously.
We’ll be watching closely to see what Honda brings to the table, especially as legacy brands start feeling pressure from both regulators and riders to electrify their lineups.
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With its tire-blistering acceleration and record-setting performance, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has been getting attention throughout the auto industry, impressing everyone who’s seen it. That “everyone” now seems to include the OG supercar brand, itself.
CarNewsChina posted pictures from a Weibo user that reportedly show a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra exiting the storied Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy. According to a Chinese blogger going by 西米露在博洛尼亚 (which seems to translate to “Sago Dessert in Bologna”), the prancing horse brand is actively benchmarking the Chinese hypercar for its own upcoming EV.
The SU7 Ultra was definitely coming from inside Ferrari’s facility. After verification, we learned this specific vehicle was officially purchased by Ferrari for testing, and the development of their next-generation electric platform.
Yet another Chinese auto blogger, 苏黎世贝勒爷, claims that Ferrari representatives visited Xiaomi headquarters last year, allegedly to discuss the joint development of next-generation high-performance EV motors.
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra made its debut last year, promising 1,548 hp, sub 2.0-second 0-60 mph times, and a top speed well over 200 mph – all at a price lower than a Tesla Model S Plaid or Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. The car sold out almost immediately after it was unveiled, racking up some 50,000 orders almost overnight.
The new electric benchmark
In the automotive world, “benchmarking” is a process in which car companies systematically tear down each others’ competitive products to compare everything from sound insulation, vehicle ride and handling, component materials, and even manufacturing methods against their own or against other industry leaders. The goal is to evaluate performance, cost, quality, and other key metrics, effectively figuring out “where they stand” in the market.
If Ferrari really did buy an SU7 to benchmark it against their own upcoming electric supercar, it’s more than just a curiosity – it could mean that the highest tiers of automotive innovation have shifted from West to East. Maybe forever.
Featured image via Xiaomi; sources throughout the post.
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We’re finally getting our first teases of the upgraded 2027 Chevy Bolt, built on GM’s battery/motor platform formerly known as Ultium. So far, so good for the vehicle, which will be revealed later this Fall.
Chevy took to social media today to tease the 2027 Chevy Bolt, saying, “You asked, we listened. The #ChevyBolt is back and better than ever. More this fall. 👀”
Chevy ended the original Bolt program with the 2023 model, which was loved by a loyal group of customers (including myself). Some of the major gripes, including charging speed and rear brake lights, already look to be addressed. Also, a new more aggressive fascia is debuting.
Electrek’s take
GM has done an incredible job keeping the 2027 Bolt under wraps. It will be the first GM vehicle with a native NACS port after the Cadillac Optiq-V, which we spied in Seattle last week.
Hopefully, the new Bolt will have improved charging speeds over and above the 54kW that previous Bolts adhered to. One possible downgrade is that the old Bolt’s amazing wireless CarPlay/Android Auto system will likely be replaced by GM’s move to Android’s built-in experience. For a few years, the Chevy Bolt was the most affordable long-range EV, and it won our 2022 Electrek car of the year for its versatility and price.
I would, of course, like to see the new Bolt as a hot hatchback, but GM CEO Mary Barra has hinted that it will likely take more of the EUV’s SUV form factor. Things like AWD options, SuperCruise, pricing, power and range are yet to be revealed, but stay tuned to Electrek for the latest on Bolt developments.
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