Zeekr finally arrives in France: the plot-twisting saga comes to an end
Promise, delayed, restart. Since 2024, Zeekr had accustomed us to the art of involuntary suspense on the French market. Initially expected at the end of 2024, then postponed to mid-2025, then again put off indefinitely, Geely's premium brand finally crossed the Rubicon: orders opened on April 2, 2026, with deliveries starting in May. For enthusiasts who had been watching for this rare bird, the wait is over.
2021: birth of a brand born to conquer the West
Zeekr — pronounced "zikeur" — was founded in March 2021 by the Geely group, with the stated ambition of competing with Nio and Tesla in the premium battery vehicle segment. Geely is the discreet giant from Hangzhou that surprised everyone in 2010 by acquiring Volvo for 1.5 billion dollars, before taking control of Polestar, Lotus and partnering with Mercedes-Benz to revive Smart. Suffice it to say we're not talking about a manufacturer that is fumbling.
Zeekr models are built on Geely's SEA platform (Sustainable Electric Architecture), shared with Volvo, Lynk & Co and electric Smart. But the most delightful part of the story is the stylistic DNA: all models are designed at the Gothenburg Global Design Center in Sweden. The cars proudly bear the inscription "Designed in Gothenburg". Chinese in capital, European at heart: that's the positioning claimed.
The brand's first model, the Zeekr 001, was presented on April 16, 2021 at the Shanghai Motor Show. This large electric shooting brake, with the look of a revised Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo, sets the tone from the start: Zeekr is not aiming for the low end.
The European saga: from Scandinavia to France
Entry into Europe takes place cautiously, from the north. Sweden and the Netherlands opened the ball in 2023, followed by Norway and the Benelux countries. France, however, had to wait.
Originally scheduled for 2024, then postponed to 2025, the arrival had ultimately been put off indefinitely last May, with executives vaguely mentioning 2026 or 2027. The reasons? An unappealing cocktail: recent tax changes, the reform of company car benefits for professionals and the central role of the eco-score had dampened enthusiasm. Not to mention that the vehicles, manufactured in China, are eligible neither for the French environmental bonus nor for CEE schemes — a non-negligible commercial handicap against European or Korean competitors.
But in this spring of 2026, the wind has turned. The French electric car market has taken off: registrations now represent approximately a quarter of new car sales, and the last quarter of 2025 marked a historic turning point, with 100% electric models for the first time registering more than petrol engines. The timing is finally considered ripe.
Four models to seduce, a promise of quality to convince
The French range is built around four 100% electric models: the compact SUV Zeekr X, the new Zeekr 7GT, the large family SUV Zeekr 7X and the shooting brake Zeekr 001.
The Zeekr X plays the role of accessible ambassador. This 4.43 m crossover offers a 49 kWh battery in the entry-level version and goes up to 69 kWh, with powertrains ranging from 200 kW in rear-wheel drive to 365 kW in four-wheel drive. WLTP range up to 415 km. Starting price: €37,990.
The Zeekr 7GT is the elegant hunting break of the range, a direct competitor to the Volkswagen ID.7. It offers 75 kWh batteries (519 km range) or 100 kWh (655 km in rear-wheel drive), with ultra-fast charging: 10 to 80% in just 13 minutes for the smaller battery. Price: from €45,990.
The Zeekr 7X is the trump card for families. This large SUV shares the same architecture as the 7GT and delivers the same impressive charging performance. It is available from €52,990.
The Zeekr 001 embodies the premium top of the catalog. This electric shooting brake develops a combined output of 544 hp (400 kW) in Dual Motor version, with a 100 kWh battery for up to 620 km range and fast charging supported up to 200 kW. Starting price: €59,990.
A network to build, a positioning to prove
Zeekr plans to open between 25 and 30 sales points in the coming months. The first locations will open in Aix-en-Provence, before deployment to several key cities: Lyon, Paris and its region, Fréjus, Saint-Étienne and Rennes.
To reassure a clientele still wary of Chinese manufacturers, the brand offers a 10-year or 200,000 km warranty (5 years renewable once), with 8 years specific warranty on the battery. Something to give pause to anyone still hesitating.
The brand claims more than 650,000 electric vehicles delivered worldwide to date. It aims for 1,500 sales in France in its first year, before accelerating to 3,500 to 4,000 units in 2027. The foundations are there. All that remains is to win over a French market that has already seen many Chinese promises pass through.
Zeekr in France: the real start begins now
After two years of false starts, Zeekr has finally settled in France with a coherent range, solid technology inherited from the Geely group, and design conceived in Sweden. The road will be long — European tariffs, the absence of environmental bonuses and cultural mistrust persist — but the brand is playing a different tune from the outsiders that preceded it.
Official Zeekr range brochures and catalogs are available for free download on Brochure Catalogue Voiture Neuve. The entire range is now waiting for you.
