Chinese EV brands Zeekr and Denza expand global presence

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers are expanding their global footprint with high-performance models. Geely-owned premium brand Zeekr announced that its 7X SUV has surpassed 200,000 global orders. The model is currently sold in over 50 countries and regions, including Denmark, Norway, and Mexico. A key competitive advantage for the 2026 Zeekr 7X is its 900-volt architecture, which allows for 10% to 80% charging in approximately 10 minutes, a speed significantly faster than the Tesla Model Y on a Supercharger.

In the luxury segment, BYD’s premium brand Denza has introduced the Denza Z, an electric hypercar producing 1,604 horsepower. The vehicle features a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 1.96 seconds and is priced significantly lower than established European competitors. In response to the rise of high-performance Chinese EVs, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann stated that the company does not view these models as a direct threat, asserting that Chinese manufacturers cannot yet match Italian brands in terms of “performance, sound, and feeling.”