Zeekr CKD – Malaysia is the primary nation exterior of China to assemble its EVs, 7X kicks off world plan

In addition to revealing that Zeekr will launch three new fashions in 2026GM Eddy Lu additionally reiterated on the model’s Chinese language New Yr media occasion yesterday that the Geely-owned model has CKD plans for our market. The truth is, Malaysia would be the first nation exterior of China to assemble Zeekr autos in a world growth plan.

The primary Zeekr mannequin to be CKD regionally assembled in Malaysia (and the world) would be the 7X, which has confirmed to be in style right here – the SUV was second within the January 2026 EV gross sales chartwhich is eye-catching for a premium model product. No timeline was given, however seeing that the 7X shouldn’t be one of many three new fashions for 2026it ought to floor in 2027 on the earliest.

At a check drive occasion for Malaysian media and house owners in Harbin, China final month, Lu mentioned that Zeekr – as a part of the Geely Group – will leverage on the group’s investments in Malaysia. “CKD is within the plans,” he mentioned with out elaborating, maybe resulting from issues being at an early stage.

This confirms what we heard from Proton final 12 months about Zeekr automobiles being regionally assembled on the Automotive Hello-Tech Valley (AHTV) in Tanjong Malim, which is anchored by Proton.

Alex Bao, head of Zeekr Southeast Asia, first broached the CKD topic in Could 2025. “Don’t neglect we’re underneath a giant group, which has plenty of services and manufacturing energy right here. So, we’ve been discussing this problem however it’s going to take a while,” he mentioned then. When requested if will probably be at Proton’s new EV plant, he mentioned “very potential, very potential. We’re underneath the identical mom!”

In July 2023, prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim revealed that Geely will make investments US$10 billion (RM39.5 billion) to show Tanjong Malim into the area’s largest auto metropolis. In October that very same 12 months, Geely and DRB-Hicom signed a grasp collaboration settlement for the AHTV venture.

Now that the tax-free window for CBU imported EVs has closed, native meeting turns into important if a model needs to promote EVs in significant numbers – it’s not a free for all because of a brand new regulation imposing a RM250k minimal worth for CBU EVs.

Initially, it was understood that the brand new flooring worth could be for manufacturers which have but to arrange store in Malaysiabut it surely has since been expanded to embrace new fashions from current manufacturers. The Malaysian Automotive Affiliation (MAA) is attempting to make clear this with Malaysia’s funding, commerce and business ministry (MITI).

We’d not see the brand new regulation’s full impact but because of the supply of 2025 inventory (thinning as we communicate), however as issues stand, CBU EV costs will finally go up, and the RRP distinction between the imports and CKD regionally assembled EVs will widen – will probably be fairly just like what we’ve seen all these years with ICE automobiles. See Audi versus BMW and Mercedes-Benz for example.

AD: Drive the ZEEKR mannequin of your desires. Submit your particulars and Zeekr Carro ( Bangsar, Mutiara Damansara, Penang, Seremban shops) will get in contact with you.