Zeekr Rides Global Momentum to Enter Korea with 7X...Set for Head?to?Head Battle with Model Y

Expected to Launch as Early as May to June

Zeekr, the premium electrification brand of Geely Automobile Group that has been rapidly gaining momentum in the global market, is preparing to enter the Korean market. With its core model, the 7X, at the forefront, the company is expected to engage in a full-fledged battle for market share with the Tesla Model Y, the dominant player in the imported electric SUV segment in Korea.

ZEEKR 7X. Geely Auto Group

According to the automobile industry on the 13th, Zeekr Korea is expected to complete key certification procedures with the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as early as this May to June, and officially launch the mid-size electrified SUV 7X in the Korean market. Zeekr Korea has already established its local corporation and is accelerating final preparations for the launch, including building a service network through contracts with dealer companies.

Riding the momentum of its growing market share overseas, Zeekr is now speeding up its push into Korea. According to sales data released by Geely Automobile Group on the 11th, Zeekr sold 23,852 units in global markets excluding China last month alone, continuing its growth trend. This represents a surge of 99.7% compared with the same period a year earlier.

With the Zeekr 7X, which has already entered 12 major European countries including Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland and has been expanding its footprint, joining the fray, competition in the domestic D?segment (mid-size) SUV market is expected to become even more intense.

Industry insiders point to the Tesla Model Y as the strongest rival to the Zeekr 7X. The Model Y is currently the best-selling model, ranking first in sales in the imported electric vehicle market in Korea. To capture the Model Y’s customer base, Zeekr plans to adopt a strategy that emphasizes both a premium feel and practicality as a family car. Although the specifications for the Korean market have not yet been finalized, performance aspects such as charging speed and driving range are also heightening expectations among Korean consumers.

This approach is distinct from that of BYD, which entered the Korean market earlier. While BYD is targeting the market with a value-for-money, mass-market strategy, Zeekr Korea intends to use the 7X to cater to domestic consumers who prefer high performance and upscale convenience features.

The starting price of the 7X in Korea is expected to be in the 50 million won range for the lowest trim. As of this year, a vehicle must be priced below 53 million won to receive 100% of the government subsidy for electric cars in Korea. Since this threshold will be lowered to below 50 million won starting next year, there are expectations that Zeekr Korea could pursue an aggressive pricing strategy.

An industry official said, "In China, the Lunar New Year is the most important holiday, so there is a high possibility that things such as detailed trim announcements will move quickly from late February, after the holiday," adding, "Once Zeekr Korea completes the domestic certification procedures, it is likely to disclose the detailed specifications and pricing, and then launch full-scale marketing activities including pre-orders."