Zeekr recall in China: what happened to the batteries and is there any risk for Kazakhstan?

The electric vehicle market is once again in the spotlight. Premium brand Zeekr, owned by Geely, has announced a recall of around 38,000 electric cars in China. The reason is defective battery cells, and it is the battery issue that has become the main topic of discussion among owners and potential buyers,, DKNews.kz reports.

Let’s break down what actually happened and why it is important for Kazakhstani owners to understand where their car originally came from.

Which models Zeekr is recalling

The recall affects the Zeekr 001 in the WE version equipped with an 86 kWh battery. These vehicles were produced from July 2021 to March 2024 and use battery cells supplied by Sunwoda.

According to the manufacturer, production inconsistencies were identified inside the batteries. Over time, this can lead to an increase in internal resistance, which directly affects battery performance.

The consequences are tangible – accelerated battery degradation, reduced efficiency, shorter real-world driving range, and potential operational risks.

“Some batteries show abnormal increases in internal resistance and a decline in capacity,” Zeekr stated.

In simple terms, the battery may age faster than expected, causing the electric vehicle to lose one of its key advantages.

What will happen to the cars in China

Zeekr has launched a full-scale recall campaign. All affected vehicles will be inspected free of charge, including remote diagnostics via cloud-based systems.

If a battery has not been replaced previously and belongs to the affected batch, it will be replaced free of charge. This is critical for owners, as the traction battery is the most expensive component of an electric car.

According to China EV DataTracker, 169,400 Zeekr 001 vehicles had been delivered by March 2024. About 22.5 percent of them fall under the recall – a very significant scale.

Billions in compensation

The issue also escalated to the supplier level. Earlier reports said that Sunwoda agreed to pay compensation of 2.3 billion yuan to a Geely-affiliated entity, which is roughly 163.5 billion tenge.

The compensation was related specifically to defective battery cells. After an agreement was reached, the lawsuit was withdrawn, indirectly confirming the seriousness of the issue.

Why this concerns Kazakhstan

Zeekr 001 vehicles began entering Kazakhstan in large numbers in 2022, mainly through so-called grey imports. At the time, prices reached up to 40 million tenge.

Today, 94 listings for Zeekr 001 vehicles from model years 2021–2024 are available on Kolesa.kz. Some of these cars may theoretically belong to the Chinese batches affected by the recall.

That is why owners of such vehicles are advised to check the battery status, vehicle history, and possible next steps through service centers or brand representatives.

Official position in Kazakhstan

Amid the public reaction, the official distributor of ZEEKR in the Republic of Kazakhstan, part of Orbis Auto, issued a detailed clarification.

The company emphasized that the recall campaign in China does not apply to ZEEKR vehicles officially supplied and sold in Kazakhstan.

All ZEEKR vehicles offered through the official distributor in Kazakhstan have different technical specifications, adapted to regional operating conditions, and are equipped with CATL-manufactured battery packs.

These batteries are not mentioned in the recall reports and do not fall under the identified risks.

It was also noted that official ZEEKR deliveries to Kazakhstan are carried out exclusively in certified form, fully compliant with European certification requirements and the current technical regulations of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

As a result, there are no grounds for recall actions involving officially supplied ZEEKR vehicles in the country.

The official distributor also confirmed that it remains in constant contact with the manufacturer and states that vehicles sold through official channels fully comply with established safety and quality standards. Owners of such vehicles have no reason for concern.

In conclusion, the Zeekr recall in China clearly highlights the critical difference between official supply channels and parallel imports. For owners who purchased their vehicles through the official distributor in Kazakhstan, this situation poses no risk.

However, those who bought Zeekr vehicles through grey import channels should remain vigilant. In the world of electric vehicles, the battery determines not only comfort but also safety, making the vehicle’s origin a truly critical factor.