Zeekr to arrive in NZ by the end of the year? 

Zeekr could be here by the end of the year according to the brand’s managing director for Australia and New Zealand. 

In an exclusive interview with Auto Media Group at the Sydney International EV Autoshow recently, Connell Yan confirmed that Zeekr has a plan to introduce its new energy models here by late 2024 or early 2025.

The models are already available to order in Australia, the cute Zeekr X crossover kicking off at $A56,900 for the rear-drive model. With a 200kW motor it is said to hit 100km/h in 5.6sec, and range is 450-560km.

“Hopefully we can bring the brand to New Zealand by the end of this year, if not early in 2025,” he said.

Zeekr is positioned as a premium brand and had its Zeekr X compact SUV, and the Zeekr 009, an MPV, on display in Sydney. These are set to be the main focus for New Zealand initially, with the Zeekr X expected to serve as the volume model.

Yan highlighted the premium nature of the vehicles, explaining, “We want to be positioned in the premium segment because, as you can see from the products, all the materials and finishes are very premium.”

Yan indicated the company will adopt a distributorship model in New Zealand rather than the franchise model used in Australia.

“We believe a good partner, the right partner, will be the best approach for the New Zealand market,” he said. Although he couldn’t yet disclose the name of the New Zealand partner, Yan assured that an announcement would be made soon.

Yan emphasised the importance of the New Zealand market, stating, “New Zealand, it’s a market that we value highly. We believe it’s a very important market for us at the moment.”

The Giltrap Group, Auto Distributors NZ, and Ateco Group have all been rumoured as potential partners. As part of the Geely group, Zeekr shares platforms with Polestar and Volvo – among others – both of which are currently held by Giltrap.

While the X and 009 will form the starting range, performance models are likely to follow, with Yan indicating this will be based on market interest.

“We are a brand that listens to the market,” he noted. “If there’s sufficient interest in other models beyond the ones we plan to launch, we’re happy to explore any possibilities.”