Shining Bright at CES: Zeekr’s Roadmap to Global EV Leadership
From Las Vegas to 40+ Countries: How Vertical Integration and AI-Driven Tech Propel Zeekr Forward
I had the opportunity to spend time with Zeekr executives at CES recently. There were lots of information shared around their strategy and progress to date. For those that are unfamiliar, over the past four years, Zeekr has quickly emerged as one of China’s most remarkable electric vehicle (EV) success stories. A dynamic blend of Geely’s established manufacturing prowess and the resourcefulness of a startup, Zeekr has raced to the forefront of the premium EV segment—touting premium experience, sophisticated technology, and an expanding global footprint. They recently merged with Lynk & Co as well, further solidifying its position within the Geely Group. I previous wrote about that here.
Below, we explore the brand’s swift ascent to date and how it strategically fits into Geely Holding Group’s ambition to exceed 5,000,000 units by 2027.
Part I. Zeekr’s Rapid Growth and Strategic Focus
Premium Positioning & Swift Scaling
When Zeekr introduced its first models in 2021, few anticipated how quickly it would evolve into a key player. Yet by late 2024, the brand had already delivered over 420,000 vehicles. This momentum stems largely from the company’s decision to focus on the premium EV segment, offering variety of models ranging from 200k RMB to 800k+ RMB:
001 (Premium GT Shooting Brake)
007 (Premium compact sedan)
009 (Luxury MPV)
7X (Family-oriented SUV)
X (compact SUV)
MIX (A better take on the VW ID BUZZ),
001 FR (High Performance Sports Car)
By catering to affluent, tech-savvy consumers, Zeekr secures both healthier margins and a more distinctive brand identity in a market often defined by aggressive price competition.
Crucially, Zeekr’s monthly sales in the latter part of 2024 have exploded, reaching 27k+ deliveries in Dec 2024 and 220k for the full year (+87% increase). For a premium BEV-only brand, this is quite remarkable. The upward trajectory reflects a market appetite for vehicles that marry advanced electrification with a premium driving experience—demonstrating an impressive rate of growth for a brand established just four years ago.
Vertical Integration & Technology Leadership
A cornerstone of Zeekr’s success has been its vertically integrated approach. The company controls a significant portion of its technology stack. Its in-house Golden Battery Gen 2 is capable of reaching a 10–80% charge in under 10.5 minutes. They not only design the pack, but also the individual battery cells as well.
Recently, they also made progress on its self-driving stack. It’s in-house ADCU Max domain controller, which incorporates NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Thor for robust computational power. This end-to-end control not only guarantees faster innovation cycles but also bolsters Zeekr’s image as a tech-forward brand.
Another defining feature is Zeekr’s 800V ultra-fast charging ecosystem. Thousands of ultra-fast chargers are already in operation across China, with an additional 1,000 targeted for deployment abroad. This dedication to charging infrastructure helps Zeekr vehicles stand out for convenience and efficiency, reassuring customers that they can enjoy both exhilarating performance and rapid recharging.
AI-Driven, Software-Defined Vehicles
While hardware and battery tech remain essential, Zeekr has also prioritized advanced software and AI capabilities. The brand’s intelligent cockpit and driving features process a variety of sensor inputs—enabling continuous learning, real-time route optimization, and a cabin experience that evolves via over-the-air updates. Its’s self-driving stack have also now fully cut away from MobileEye and have been building their own end to end model to tackle autonomous driving.
Zeekr’s venture into shared mobility further showcases its technological confidence. The purpose-built Zeekr RT autonomous taxi, now in limited pilot testing with Waymo in Las Vegas, is expected to enter mass production in 2025.
As the wider automotive industry embraces software-defined experiences, Zeekr’s integration of AI at every step underscores both its readiness for an autonomous future and its appeal to consumers craving innovation.
Global Footprint & Service Network
Bolstered by its product innovations, Zeekr has seized on international expansion with an impressive showroom network—538 outlets worldwide by end of 2024. Its 500th showroom opening in Singapore stands as a testament to the brand’s desire to engage customers face-to-face, even far from its home market.
Meanwhile, Zeekr’s 800 KW ultra-fast charging stations are set to multiply globally. There’s 3893 in China alone. They plan to build another 1000 aborad, including key markets like Thailand, Australia, UAE, Brazil & Mexico. Zeekr understands that in order to have success abroad, they have to invest in better charging infrastructure for its customers.
At the stand, they even had a demo showing a robotic arm charging the EV automatically, envisioning a world where the vehicles are autonomous and can drive to charging piles by themselves to replenish battery.
This carefully orchestrated growth abroad is made possible by the groundwork laid in premium product development, vertical integration, and AI-driven innovation. Taken together, these elements strengthen Zeekr’s ability to replicate its domestic success overseas, ensuring buyers encounter a consistent level of service and reliability wherever they go.
Part II. Zeekr’s Role in Geely Holding Group’s 2027 Vision
Context: Geely’s 5 Million-Unit Goal
For Geely Holding Group, which includes brands such as Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, and Farizon Commercial Vehicles, the path ahead is defined by a bold target: surpassing five million annual units by 2027. This projection builds on an already strong performance—3.32 million units sold in 2024, with 1.48 million of those being new energy vehicles. Zeekr’s premium EV expertise positions it as a key lever in elevating both profitability and reputation on the global stage.
Strategic Synergy: Multi-Brand Architecture
Zeekr’s growth doesn’t exist in isolation. Within Geely’s passenger vehicle ecosystem, the company joins Galaxy (mainstream NEVs), Lynk & Co (stylish, high-end NEVs), and China Star (focused on fuel offerings). Together, these brands address a broad spectrum of price points and consumer demands. Zeekr’s 220k units sold in 2024 alone, an 87% year-over-year rise, complements Geely’s broader passenger vehicle achievements, including a 50% NEV penetration rate for several consecutive months.
All this is underpinned by shared platforms like SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) for high-end EVs, and GEA for multiple powertrains. By capitalizing on these architectures and standardizing key components, Geely achieves both cost savings and faster research cycles, while each brand, Zeekr included, maintains a distinct identity.
Long-Termism & Quality-First Approach
Chairman Li Shufu’s guidance has long emphasized sustainable development over short-term ambition. Geely’s strategy shuns “malicious competition” or reckless expansion in favor of high-quality products, cohesive brand-building, and careful scaling. Zeekr embodies these principles by focusing on research and development—whether in AI integration or next-gen battery designs—instead of slashing prices to gain quick market share. It also fosters strong user communities, having integrated hundreds of user-suggested features through over-the-air updates, ensuring each product iteration aligns with genuine consumer needs.
Accelerating Growth Through Shared Mobility & Exports
Beyond conventional retail, Zeekr also taps into the burgeoning market for shared mobility and exports. Geely’s domestic robotaxi service, CaoCao Mobility, aims to roll out operations by 2026. Meanwhile, exports continue to rise, with Geely surpassing 400,000 units shipped globally in 2024—supported by Zeekr’s 40-country presence. Ongoing deployment of 800V charging stations in various international markets further amplifies the brand’s worldwide growth potential.
Conclusion
In the span of just four years, Zeekr has carved out a compelling place in the premium EV landscape—demonstrating rapid sales growth, a robust 800V ecosystem, and clear acumen in AI-driven software. Acting as the “tip of the spear” for Geely’s broader strategy, Zeekr fuses the group’s storied automotive background with the agility of a young tech startup.
Given Geely’s multi-brand configuration, long-term commitment to quality, and quest to exceed five million units by 2027, Zeekr’s rapid ascent is both illustrative and instrumental. By pioneering upscale design, vertical integration, and global expansion, Zeekr not only advances its own vision of luxurious electric mobility but also anchors Geely’s broader shift toward a green, intelligent future—one that promises to redefine automotive competition on the global stage.
Nice one