The rise of Tesla in China has inspired domestic rivals to do the same: target premium sales and move overseas. Zeekr has raised prices and may reportedly list in the US. Strong sales provide plenty of road ahead for the upmarket electric car brand of Chinese automaker Geely.
Cynics may snark that “Chinese luxury car” is a contradiction in terms, like “organised chaos”. But critics said the same of top-end Japanese vehicles before Toyota launched its Lexus sub-brand.
If Zeekr raises some $1bn in the US it would overturn widespread expectations of a Hong Kong listing. Zeekr would be the first large Chinese company to list in the US since Didi’s debut last year, which ended in an ignominious delisting.