Stock Markets February 19, 2026

Zeekr Launches in Italy as Geely-Backed EV Brand Expands Across Europe

Premium Chinese electric marque to begin deliveries and open retail outlets amid rising demand for high-end EVs and charging buildout

By Nina Shah
Zeekr Launches in Italy as Geely-Backed EV Brand Expands Across Europe

Zeekr, a wholly owned subsidiary of Geely Holding Group, will begin sales and deliveries in Italy starting Thursday and will roll out retail locations in spring, the company said. The premium Chinese EV brand, which sells models priced roughly between 38,000 and 73,000 euros, has already begun operations in several European markets and plans further expansion in 2026. Zeekr cites growing demand for premium electric vehicles and continued investment in charging infrastructure as drivers for the move.

Key Points

  • Zeekr, owned by Geely Holding Group, starts sales in Italy with deliveries from Thursday and retail openings planned for spring - impacts automotive retail and EV distribution sectors.
  • The brand's four-model lineup is priced between about 38,000 and 73,000 euros (roughly $44,680 - $85,833), positioning it in the premium EV segment - relevant to consumer auto demand and pricing competition.
  • Zeekr already operates in multiple European markets and plans additional expansion into France, Britain and Spain in 2026, affecting European EV market dynamics and cross-border distribution.

Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle marque fully owned by Geely Holding Group, will enter the Italian market beginning Thursday, the company announced in a press release. The move is part of a broader European rollout that the automaker has been staging across the continent.

The brand said it will begin deliveries of its four-model EV line-up and open physical retail locations in Italy during the spring, coordinating the launch with distribution partner Jameel Motors. Lothar Schupet, acting CEO of Zeekr Europe, described Italy as a "key market" for the brand's expansion in Europe and said the timing aligns with rapidly increasing demand for premium electric vehicles and ongoing investment in charging infrastructure.

Zeekr's price range sits at about 38,000 euros to 73,000 euros depending on model and options, which converts to roughly $44,680 to $85,833 using the conversion noted in the company statement. The company first started selling vehicles in Germany in December and now has a presence in markets including Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Looking ahead, Zeekr has stated plans to broaden its European footprint further in 2026, identifying additional target markets such as France, Britain and Spain. The company operates as a fully owned subsidiary of Geely Holding Group, which has publicly set a target of achieving over 6.5 million global vehicle sales by 2030 and aims to place among the world's top five automakers.

Industry observers note that Chinese automakers have made notable inroads in Europe, leveraging lower price points relative to established European brands and benefiting from state subsidy programs tied to decarbonisation efforts on the continent.


Investor note included in the original release:

($1 = 0.8505 euros)

An attached promotional section referenced a ticker, asking whether investors should consider buying 0175 now. It described a proprietary model called ProPicks AI that evaluates thousands of companies monthly using more than 100 financial metrics to surface stock ideas based on fundamentals, momentum and valuation. The item noted that the AI process is unbiased and cited past notable winners that it has identified, including Super Micro Computer (+185%) and AppLovin (+157%).

Risks

  • Market acceptance risk - the expansion relies on sustained and growing demand for premium EVs in Italy and other European markets, which directly affects automotive manufacturers and retail networks.
  • Infrastructure dependency - the rollout is linked to continued investment in charging infrastructure; slower-than-expected infrastructure development could constrain EV adoption and sales.
  • Competitive pressure - Chinese automakers' lower price points and subsidy-supported market entry create heightened competition for established European brands and could influence pricing and margins in the automotive sector.

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