China’s Geely Automobile Group plans to begin making electric vehicles at Malaysian partner Proton’s factory as early as the first half of 2027, aiming to tap higher demand brought on by the oil crisis, as momentum slows at home.
Zeekr, Geely’s premium sub-brand, is preparing to use an existing Proton line to produce the fully electric Zeekr 7X midsize SUV, said Mars Chen, Zeekr’s vice president. Geely’s parent, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, owns 49.9% of Proton.
“We will take another look at [Malaysia’s trade] position … and determine where the cars can enjoy the highest liquidity,” said Chen, who oversees overseas operations for Zeekr and its sister brand Lynk & Co, alluding to potential exports to neighboring countries.
Zeekr is among the Chinese carmakers reviving underutilized factories abroad to deepen their global reach, a strategy partly driven by rising trade protectionism. Malaysia, Zeekr’s first overseas production base, is expected to raise EV import taxes, starting July 1, after an EV subsidy program ended last year.
Chen added that the company has no plans to build new factories abroad, citing excess production capacity in “many places.”
