The History of Zeeker (and Lynk & Co)

Brand

The Shared Evolution of Geely’s Premium New Energy Experiment

The history of Zeekr and Lynk & Co is deeply intertwined, representing two of the most ambitious brand strategies developed by Geely Holding Group, one of China’s largest privately owned automotive conglomerates. Both brands were created to move Geely upmarket, compete with global premium manufacturers, and accelerate its transition into electrification and software-defined vehicles.

Lynk & Co was launched in 2016, while Zeekr was founded later in 2021 as a dedicated premium electric vehicle brand. Together, they represent a two-layer strategy: Lynk & Co bridges traditional combustion and hybrid premium mobility, while Zeekr focuses on fully electric, software-driven luxury performance vehicles.

As of 2026, both brands remain active and expanding globally, with Zeekr in particular emerging as one of China’s fastest-growing premium EV exporters.

Geely Holding Group: The Parent Company

To understand Zeekr and Lynk & Co, it is essential to understand their parent organization.

Geely Holding Group

  • Founded: 1986
  • Founder: Li Shufu
  • Headquarters: Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

Founder Background: Li Shufu

Li Shufu was born in 1963 in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China. He is one of China’s most influential automotive entrepreneurs. Before founding Geely, he worked in refrigeration equipment manufacturing and later shifted into automotive components and vehicle production.

Key milestones in his background include:

  • Starting Geely as a refrigerator parts manufacturer in the 1980s
  • Transitioning into motorcycle production in the 1990s
  • Entering automobile manufacturing in the late 1990s
  • Expanding Geely into a global automotive group through acquisitions

Li Shufu is also known for major acquisitions, including:

Geely’s global expansion strategy set the foundation for both Lynk & Co and Zeekr.

Lynk & Co: The First Modern Global Brand (2016–Present)

Founding and Launch

  • Founded: 2016
  • First vehicle launch: 2017

Lynk & Co was created as a joint venture between:

  • Geely Auto Group
  • Volvo Cars (owned by Geely Holding)

The brand was designed in Sweden, with engineering collaboration between Chinese and European teams.

Purpose and Strategy

Lynk & Co was created to:

  • Target younger urban buyers
  • Compete with Volkswagen, Toyota, and BMW in compact car segments
  • Introduce subscription-based car ownership models
  • Blend European design with Chinese manufacturing efficiency

Key Founders and Leadership

While Lynk & Co does not have a single founder, its development was driven by:

  • Li Shufu (Geely founder and strategic architect)
  • Volvo Cars engineering leadership
  • Geely Auto executive teams

The brand’s early design language was heavily influenced by Volvo’s design philosophy under its Swedish leadership team.

Early Models and Product Line

Lynk & Co 01 (2017)

Lynk & Co 02 and 03

Lynk & Co 05, Lynk & Co 06, Lynk & Co 09

  • Larger SUVs
  • Plug-in hybrid systems
  • Premium interior focus

Innovation: Subscription Ownership Model

One of Lynk & Co’s most unique contributions to automotive marketing was its subscription-based ownership model, first launched in Europe around 2020.

Instead of traditional ownership, customers could:

  • Pay a monthly subscription fee
  • Share vehicles via digital platforms
  • Access flexible usage models

This concept was highly innovative but had mixed success depending on region.

Lynk & Co Milestones

  • 2017: First production vehicle launched
  • 2018: Expansion into European markets
  • 2020: Subscription model launched in Europe
  • 2021–2023: Expansion of hybrid and plug-in hybrid lineup

Challenges and Struggles (Lynk & Co)

1. Brand positioning confusion

Consumers were uncertain whether Lynk & Co was:

  • Premium
  • Mainstream
  • Luxury

2. Subscription model limitations

In Europe, the subscription model struggled due to:

  • High monthly costs
  • Limited availability
  • Consumer preference for ownership

3. Market competition

Competing with:

created pricing pressure.

Resolution

Lynk & Co adjusted strategy by:

  • Expanding traditional sales models
  • Improving hybrid technology
  • Integrating deeper with Geely and Volvo platforms

Zeekr: The Premium Electric Revolution (2021–Present)

Founding

  • Founded: March 2021
  • Parent company: Geely Holding Group

Zeekr was created as a pure electric luxury performance brand, positioned above Lynk & Co.

Purpose

Zeekr was designed to:

  • Compete with Tesla, NIO, and BMW in the premium EV segment
  • Develop software-defined electric vehicles
  • Focus exclusively on battery electric architecture

Zeekr Leadership and Development

Zeekr operates under Geely leadership, with strong influence from:

  • Geely engineers
  • Volvo-derived platform development teams
  • Global design studios

Unlike Lynk & Co, Zeekr was designed from the start as a global EV-first brand.

Zeekr Platforms and Technology

Zeekr vehicles are built on:

  • SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) platform
  • 800-volt electrical architecture
  • Advanced battery systems

These technologies enable:

  • Ultra-fast charging
  • High-performance electric motors
  • Long driving ranges

Key Zeekr Models

Zeekr 001 (2021)

  • Shooting brake-style electric vehicle
  • High performance dual-motor setup
  • Range exceeding 400 miles (CLTC cycle in China)

Zeekr 009 (2022)

  • Full-size luxury electric MPV
  • Focus on executive and family luxury transport
  • High-end interior features

Zeekr X (2023)

Zeekr Milestones

  • 2021: Brand launch
  • 2021: Zeekr 001 launch success
  • 2023: Expansion into European markets
  • 2024–2025: Rapid global expansion

Zeekr also became publicly traded on the NYSE in 2024 through an IPO structure under Geely’s financial strategy.

Zeekr Challenges

1. Global competition

Zeekr competes directly with:

2. Brand recognition

Outside China, Zeekr is still building recognition.

3. Supply chain scaling

EV battery sourcing and semiconductor availability remain challenges.

Resolution

Zeekr addressed these issues by:

  • Expanding global partnerships
  • Increasing production capacity
  • Strengthening software development capabilities

Manufacturing Operations

Both Zeekr and Lynk & Co share Geely’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem.

Key factories include:

  • Ningbo manufacturing hub (China)
  • Hangzhou Bay plant
  • Dedicated Zeekr EV production facilities

Factory Features

  • High automation levels
  • Battery integration lines
  • Robotics-based assembly
  • Software calibration centers

Geely emphasizes vertical integration but also partners with suppliers like CATL for batteries.

Motorsports Involvement

Lynk & Co Racing

Lynk & Co has an active motorsport / race car presence:

  • World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) participation
  • Lynk & Co Cyan Racing partnership
  • Multiple championship wins in touring car racing

Zeekr Motorsports

Zeekr does not have a major racing program but focuses on:

  • Performance EV benchmarking
  • Track testing programs for development

U.S. Market Reception

Neither Lynk & Co nor Zeekr currently sell vehicles in the United States.

U.S. Situation

  • No official retail presence
  • No dealership networks
  • Limited brand awareness

Consumer Perception

Among U.S. automotive enthusiasts:

  • Zeekr is viewed as a strong Tesla competitor in China
  • Lynk & Co is seen as an innovative but niche European experiment

U.S. Sales Figures

  • Zeekr: 0 official U.S. retail sales
  • Lynk & Co: 0 official U.S. retail sales

Global Sales Performance

Lynk & Co

  • Over 1 million cumulative vehicles sold globally since launch
  • Strong performance in China and Europe

Zeekr

  • Rapid growth since 2021
  • Hundreds of thousands of EVs delivered globally by mid-2020s
  • Strong demand for Zeekr 001 and Zeekr 009

Most Successful Models

Lynk & Co 01

  • Most successful Lynk & Co model
  • Strong hybrid and SUV demand
  • Platform sharing with Volvo XC40 increased credibility

Zeekr 001

  • Zeekr’s flagship model
  • High performance + luxury positioning
  • Strong sales in China and export markets

What Makes These Brands Different

1. Geely ecosystem integration

Both brands benefit from:

  • Volvo engineering
  • Shared platforms
  • Global supply chains

2. Software-first design

Especially Zeekr:

  • Vehicle software updates
  • Digital cockpit systems
  • Autonomous driving features

3. Alternative ownership models

Lynk & Co experimented with subscription mobility.

4. EV-first strategy (Zeekr)

Zeekr is fully electric from inception.

Current Status and Outlook (2026)

Lynk & Co

  • Active brand
  • Expanding hybrid and EV lineup
  • Continued European presence

Zeekr

  • Fast-growing global EV brand
  • Expanding into Europe and Asia
  • Potential future entry into North America (not yet confirmed)

The story of Lynk & Co and Zeekr represents one of the most ambitious multi-brand strategies in the modern automotive industry.

  • Lynk & Co (founded 2016) pioneered new ownership and hybrid SUV strategies
  • Zeekr (founded 2021) emerged as a premium EV competitor built for the global stage
  • Both brands are supported by Geely Holding Group, led by Li Shufu

While Lynk & Co focuses on hybrid flexibility and lifestyle mobility, Zeekr represents the future of high-performance electric luxury vehicles.

Neither brand has been acquired or shut down; instead, both continue expanding as part of Geely’s global automotive empire, shaping the future of Chinese premium mobility on the world stage.

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