Zeekr of truth
What does a chemical element, Generation Z and a ‘geek’ have in common?
Truth is Chinese premium electric vehicle newcomer, Zeekr, was derived from these several entities. In Chinese, Zeekr means “Extreme Krypton.” Further research suggests that the “Z” in the name came from Generation Z since the brand is just fairly new and avant-garde, having only started in 2021.
While ‘geek’ most likely came from the creators of the marque, depicting a genius or a group of individuals solely dedicated to further development, research and study of the product and the electric vehicle landscape.
Despite being a fledgling in the automotive realm, Zeekr is fast-becoming a household name, not just in China, but globally. From yearly sales of about 6,000 units when it started in 2021, numbers have already ballooned to about 120,000 units sales in 2023. Now, the carmaker keeps on growing at an even faster rate.
In fact, just recently, the carmaker finally made it to our local shores through its local exclusive distributor, Autohub Group, a 25-year company that conglomerates car and motorcycle distributorships and dealerships, covering a complete range of automotive needs and several allied businesses.
In its recent public launch held at Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, company president, Willy Tee Ten said: “The Zeekr vehicles that we are launching, which push the boundaries of electric vehicle technology, represent the Autohub Group’s commitment to introducing future-forward and sustainable mobility solutions that are tailor-fit to the Philippine market.”
“This grand launch marks only the beginning of an even stronger partnership with Zeekr to deliver the future of driving,” he added.
In the country, Zeekr’s lineup of state-of-the-art electric vehicles range from sedans to sport utility vehicles, designed “to deliver exceptional performance, advanced technology, and unparalleled driving experiences.”
Debuting are vehicles, such as the Zeekr 001 Long Range, Zeekr 001 Privilege, Zeekr X Premium, and Zeekr X Privilege.
Meanwhile, for his part, Zeekr South East Asian Region, Alex Bao, shared:
“The launch of these Zeekr vehicles will definitely accelerate the shift toward electric mobility solutions in the Philippines, which is a key market for us at Zeekr.”
According to him, they are confident that their local distributor, with its proven track record and strong market presence, can help push our country toward more sustainable solutions and deliver more innovative products to our local consumers.
Zeekr’s style and zing
At the heart of the brand’s reliability and performance is its lightning-fast charging times and safety functions, positioning it as a premier sustainable mobility solution.
The Zeekr 001’s charging port, for one, can go up to 200kW, which means it can charge the vehicle from 10 percent to 80 percent in just half an hour.
In terms of aesthetics, the Zeekr is likewise one magnificent specimen. Its designs are an amalgam of sharp yet sexy character profiles with sloping lines from front to the rear.
It also features intelligent matrix LED projection headlights, equipped with ADB adaptive high beam technology, which utilize 64 independently controlled LEDs.
These LED lights dynamically adjust the high beam matrix to provide optimal illumination without blinding oncoming traffic. This is particularly helpful at night or in the wee hours of the morning. 1.47-m integrated full-width tail lights, meantime, accentuate illumination and functionality, particularly in the Zeekr 001.
Inside, this fierce and stylish panache is spilled over. The marque provides a premium and comfortable cabin as luxury materials and finishes laden the steering wheel, dash, side doors, seats and pillars.
Meanwhile, the latest digital cockpit technology is front and center as one can revel in its superb quality in comfort and sophistication.
In terms of safety and security, one can enjoy peace of mind. Both the Zeekr 001 2024 and the Zeekr X 2024 have been bestowed the prestigious 5-star rating from the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP).
Operating its research and development centers in Ningbo, Hangzhou and Shanghai in China, as well as Gothenburg in Sweden, Zeekr is basically under its mother company Geely Holding Group.
As it aims to create a fully integrated user standard ecosystem with innovation, while at the same time, aspiring to be a true mobility solution provider, it utilizes Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) and includes its own battery technologies, battery management systems, electric motor technologies and electric vehicle supply chain.
