A new player is preparing to enter the Japanese market: the Chinese premium brand Zeekr, owned by Geely Holding. Its first model will be the Zeekr 009 electric minivan, which made its Japanese public debut at the Japan Mobility Show 2025. The decision to launch sales in Japan was made by FollowFly, a company that previously specialized in commercial electric vehicles but now intends to develop its passenger EV business.

The Zeekr 009 boasts impressive specifications. Measuring over 5 meters long and more than 2 meters wide, with a three-row cabin seating seven, it ranks among the largest vans on the Japanese market. Its 140 kWh battery pack is one of the largest in a production vehicle, utilizing CATL's third-generation Qilin battery system. Despite a weight of nearly 2.9 tonnes, the claimed range reaches 822 km. Two electric motors deliver a combined output of 450 kW, enabling a 0-100 km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds.

Zeekr 009
zeekrglobal.com

The Zeekr brand itself was established in 2021 as a premium EV platform within Geely, absorbing developments from Lynk & Co. and marking a more ambitious strategy to compete with Tesla and NIO. In China and several Asian countries, Zeekr has already captured a notable market share, offering not only tech-focused models but also a comprehensive charging ecosystem. For the Japanese market, the 009 model will serve as an image-building launch, intended to showcase the brand's technological maturity.

Given the growing interest among Japanese buyers in large EVs and the increasing competitive pressure from Chinese rivals, the launch of the 009 could become a significant indicator of market shifts.