New Zealand debut for Zeekr and Farizon: Geely's latest automobile brands join Giltrap NordEast's prestigious automotive conglomerate

In a significant move for the New Zealand automotive market, the Giltrap Group, the country's largest independent new-vehicle importer, has established a new company named NordEast. This venture aims to handle six brands under the Geely Group umbrella, marking a new era for electric and commercial vehicles in the region.

The cornerstone of this new initiative is Volvo, a trusted premium brand known for its focus on SUVs. NordEast currently offers the XC40, XC60, XC90, and a range of pure-electrics: EX30, EX40, and EX90. The deal with the premium electric vehicle (EV) brand, Zeekr, was signed just three days before a media event for the new company on August 21.

Zeekr's range starts with the X, built on a shared platform with the Volvo EX30, and will be available in RWD for $59,900, or AWD for $69,900. The Zeekr 009, a luxury people mover, offers up to 450kW and a maximum 582km range from its 116kWh battery, with pricing starting at $149,900.

NordEast is also introducing Farizon, Geely's EV-commercial brand, with a van that has a range in excess of 300km and pricing starting at $74,990.

The launch of Geely in April was the catalyst for this move, with the EX5 SUV being the first vehicle launched. The next vehicle launched by NordEast is Geely's Starray EM-i, a plug-in "super hybrid" SUV. The pricing for the Starray EM-i is yet to be confirmed, but NordEast promises it'll be below $50k.

Volvo is considered crucial in introducing Giltrap Group to Geely, and the partnership has led to the successful buyout of Scandinavian Motors, a Volvo distributor co-owned by Giltrap, earlier this year.

NordEast plans to future-proof all six brands and sell a total of 5000 vehicles annually by 2028. The company will have 14 locations in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, and Christchurch, with 29 showrooms nationwide, including five Zeekr showrooms.

However, the coordinator responsible for the sales points of Zeekr and Farizon in New Zealand has not been publicly disclosed.

In addition, Geely is launching the Riddara RD6 Pro, a fully electric ute with a payload of 1030kg, capable of towing three tonnes and wading through 815mm of water. The Zeekr 7X, a high-performance medium-SUV, has battery sizes of 75kWh and 100kWh, with range up to 615km, but pricing for this model is yet to be confirmed.

Lastly, NordEast aims to launch Zeekr and Farizon, ensuring a diverse and sustainable future for electric vehicles in New Zealand.

New Zealand debut for Zeekr and Farizon: Geely's latest automobile brands join Giltrap NordEast's prestigious automotive conglomerate