Asianfin--Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Zeekr has officially entered the Australian market with the launch of its first model. The premium brand, owned by Geely, plans to introduce two models in 2024, with both also set to debut in New Zealand later this year as part of its strategy to establish Oceania as a key overseas market. Zeekr's managing director for Australia, Connal Yan, reported a strong start with the sport utility vehicle (SUV) X, noting that it, along with the multi-purpose vehicle 009, has attracted over 2,500 registered expressions of interest. Chinese EV makers have been increasingly focused on Australia due to rising trade barriers in other regions. Europe is preparing to impose significant tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, and the U.S. market remains largely inaccessible. While Australia sold just 1.2 million cars last year, making it a relatively small market globally, it remains appealing to Chinese automakers due to the absence of a domestic car manufacturing industry and the low likelihood of protectionist trade measures.