First delivery held in Busan's Haeundae; Daegu deliveries to follow

Pre-orders opened in June; cumulative orders top 2,000 units

Service centers in Busan and Daegu to anchor maintenance network

Iron EV, the official dealer of Chinese electric vehicle brand Zeekr, holds the first customer delivery ceremony for the Zeekr 7X electric SUV in the Yeongnam region at the Zeekr Haeundae Center+ in Busan on Thursday. [Iron EV]
Iron EV, the official dealer of Chinese electric vehicle brand Zeekr, holds the first customer delivery ceremony for the Zeekr 7X electric SUV in the Yeongnam region at the Zeekr Haeundae Center+ in Busan on Thursday. [Iron EV]

Iron EV, the official dealer of Chinese electric vehicle brand Zeekr, has begun delivering the electric SUV Zeekr 7X to customers in the Yeongnam region, starting with Busan. The company plans to expand its sales and service network across Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province, Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, with a new Daegu showroom set to open next month.

Iron EV said Friday it held the first Zeekr 7X customer delivery ceremony in the Yeongnam region at the Zeekr Haeundae Center+ in Busan on Thursday, handing over vehicles to pre-order customers.

The Zeekr 7X is a five-seat midsize electric SUV — the first model Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle brand under China's Geely Automobile Group, has launched in the South Korean market. The company made its first domestic delivery on Wednesday at its flagship store in Gangnam, Seoul, presenting the first unit to SK On.

The 7X was developed on a dedicated electric vehicle platform and is offered in three trims: Pro, Max and Ultra. Domestic prices start at 52.99 million won ($40,000) for the Pro, 59.99 million won for the Max and 69.99 million won for the Ultra.

The top-of-the-line Ultra produces a maximum output of 645 horsepower and accelerates from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 3.9 seconds. Certified driving ranges on a single charge, under domestic standards, are 375 kilometers for the Pro, 483 kilometers for the Max and 440 kilometers for the Ultra.

Iron EV plans to begin deliveries in Daegu following the Busan launch. Next month, the company will open Zeekr Daegu Space, an official showroom in the city, to expand its customer reach.

The company is also building out its after-sales infrastructure. Service centers in Busan and Daegu will handle vehicle inspections, maintenance and other customer support.

As a newly entered import brand, Iron EV faces the challenge of ensuring not just vehicle sales but also accessible and convenient service. In the early stages of its domestic market entry, converting pre-orders into actual sales and establishing a stable delivery and after-sales system are seen as key priorities.

"We are delighted to deliver vehicles of outstanding quality to our customers, and we are grateful to those who waited so long," said Kim Min-gyu, chief executive of Iron EV. "With spacious service facilities ready in Busan and Daegu, we will do our utmost to ensure convenient service for customers of a new brand."

Meanwhile, sales of Chinese electric vehicle brands are rising rapidly in South Korea's imported car market. According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA), BYD recorded 20,137 new registrations in the country from January through September this year, a 578.7 percent increase from the same period a year earlier. Zeekr is also moving to establish a sales foothold in the domestic electric vehicle market, with the 7X as its lead model.


kwater@heraldcorp.com