According to a Bloomberg report today, Geely's premium brand Zeekr has revealed via email that it plans to open showrooms in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, South Korea by the end of next year, and begin deliveries in the first quarter of 2026.

According to the report, the first model Zeekr plans to launch in Korea is expected to be the Zeekr 001. Currently, the EU is imposing temporary tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, leading Chinese automakers to seek growth in other markets. For example, BYD is also preparing to introduce passenger vehicles in Korea, as previously reported by IT Home. In the commercial vehicle sector, Chinese-made electric buses account for 40% of the total electric buses currently operating in Korea.This is not Geely's first foray into the Korean market. In 2022, Geely acquired a 34% stake in Renault Korea, and the two automakers have deepened their cooperation on "eco-friendly models." Additionally, the Volvo-branded electric SUV Polestar 4, which is under Geely's ownership, will be produced at Renault Korea's Busan factory in the second half of 2025.According to Lee Heng-gyu (phonetic), the head of the Hyundai Motor Group's Automotive Convergence Technology Research Institute, Tesla has achieved success in the Korean market, indicating that there is demand for premium electric vehicles. Chinese electric vehicles, with their many digital features, are expected to be attractive to Korean consumers who are tech-savvy.