The first shipment of the European version of the Zeekr 001 to the Netherlands set sail today, marking the first time a Zeekr model has been exported to an international market.

On the first day of the Shanghai auto show on April 18, Zeekr unveiled its European strategy, saying it would provide EV products for European customers based on a direct-to-customer business model.

On June 27, Zeekr announced that it began pre-sales of the Zeekr 001 and Zeekr X in Europe, with starting prices of €59,490 ($64,170), and €44,990, respectively, and that deliveries would begin within the year.

The two models will go on sale in Sweden and the Netherlands first, with deliveries expected to begin during the year, Zeekr said in late June.

The first Zeekr 001s built for European customers rolled off the production line at Zeekr's plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on August 2, and the vehicles are expected to be shipped to Europe from the port of Taicang, Jiangsu province, in mid-August, the company announced at the time.

Zeekr has established a European sales company dedicated to long-term steady growth in the region, it said today.

Zeekr reiterated today that it will start delivering vehicles in Sweden and the Netherlands in the fourth quarter, adding that its international presence will increase to six countries by 2024 and eight countries by 2025.

In addition to Europe, Zeekr is working on more international partnerships and has already signed agreements in Israel and Kazakhstan to set up car distribution networks, it said.

($1 = 0.9270 EUR)

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