Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle (EV) brand owned by Chinese automaker Geely Auto, has entered the Italian market following its recent distribution agreement with Jameel Motors Italia.

Italy is the latest market in Zeekr’s European expansion plans, having entered Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands in the last two years. Zeekr’s European CEO, Lothar Schupet, recently confirmed that the brand also has plans to expand further into Europe this year, including France in the coming weeks, followed by the UK and Spain.

Jameel Motors has already begun taking orders for Zeekr’s full range of models in Italy, with deliveries to customers expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026.

Lothar Schupet told reporters: “Italy is a key market in our European expansion, and the timing for Zeekr’s entry could not be better. Demand for premium electric vehicles is growing rapidly, supported by continued investment in charging infrastructure. Together, we look forward to introducing Zeekr to Italian customers and contributing to the development of electric mobility in the country.”

Mr Schupet pointed out that European customer loyalty to long-established European car brands has weakened in recent years, due in large part to competitively priced Chinese vehicles. He said that for the same price, customers in Europe receive “much more technology and performance.”

Zeekr sees significant opportunities for growth in Europe in the next decade, as the EU market moves towards banning new petrol and diesel car sales by 2035. Mr Schupet added that “even in very traditional countries like Germany and France, EV adoption is starting to accelerate.”