China's Zeekr launches electric SUV, targets Europe

CHENGDU, China -- Chinese electric vehicle maker Zeekr launched the all-electric Zeekr X compact SUV, as it targets a premium market in China that has been dominated by German automakers.

The Geely-owned brand said it planned to offer the Zeekr X and its Zeekr 001 electric sedan in Western Europe without saying when that would be.

With a starting price of 189,800 yuan ($27,615) in China, the Zeekr X offers features such as facial recognition to unlock the car and an option for an in-vehicle refrigerator, CEO Andy An told an event in China's southwestern city of Chengdu on Wednesday.

The company will start delivering the Zeekr X in China from June with a target of delivering 40,000 this year, An said.

Zeekr's event to launch the new model took place ahead of the Shanghai auto show, scheduled for April 18-27, where automakers such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Chinese brand Nio are expected to show off their latest models.

An said Zeekr would provide more details on its strategy for overseas sales then. After Europe, Zeekr will target Asian markets outside China, An said without providing details.

Zeekr has jointly developed an EV for use as a robotaxi in partnership with Alphabet's self-driving technology unit Waymo.

An said Zeekr had no current plan to sell its EVs directly to U.S. consumers.

EV makers such as Zeekr and Nio have taken market share from German automakers such as Mercedes and BMW in China by launching EV models more quickly.

In also targeting Europe, Zeekr joins a range of Chinese automakers that are selling or planning to deliver EVs for that market, including BYD, Xpeng and SAIC's MG brand.

French auto consultancy Inovev estimates Chinese brands will represent up to 20 percent of EVs sold in Europe by 2030.

Pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars, accounted for 44 percent of first-quarter sales of premium cars in China, data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers show.