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SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - Zeekr, a premium electric vehicle brand under China’s Geely Automotive Group, has formally entered the South Korean market, signaling a deeper push into the global EV industry and following in the footsteps of budget rival BYD.
According to corporate registration filings with South Korea’s Supreme Court, Zeekr has established a local subsidiary, Zeekr Intelligent Technology Korea.
The company's stated objectives include the import, distribution, sales, and servicing of automobiles and related products. The Korean unit will be led by Cao Yu, Zeekr’s East Asia head, with Kim Nam-ho, a former executive at Polestar Korea, appointed as an internal director.
The move comes after Zeekr completed trademark registration for its logo in South Korea on March 17. Industry analysts expect the brand to debut in the country with the 7X, a midsize electric SUV that has already been trademarked locally.
The 7X features a maximum output of 639 horsepower and a driving range of 543 kilometers on a single charge.
It accelerates from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in just 3.8 seconds. In Europe, the all-wheel-drive version retails for approximately 63,000 euros (about 100 million won), while the rear-wheel-drive variant is priced at 53,000 euros (roughly 84 million won).
Founded in 2021, Zeekr has experienced rapid growth. Annual sales rose from 71,941 vehicles in 2022 to 118,585 in 2023, and reached 222,123 units in 2024.
The company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in May 2024, raising $440 million in its initial public offering to support continued international expansion.
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