Xin Lang Cai Jing·2025-12-30 07:33Core Viewpoint - Geely's subsidiary Zeekr has filed a lawsuit against battery supplier Sunwoda, claiming damages of 2.314 billion yuan due to quality issues with battery cells supplied over a period of two years, raising questions about the timing and motivations behind the lawsuit following Zeekr's recent privatization and delisting from the U.S. stock market [1][2][11]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit was filed by Weir Electric Vehicle Technology, a key subsidiary of Zeekr, which has been involved in the development and manufacturing of core components for electric vehicles since its establishment in 2017 [2]. - Weir Electric claims that the battery cells delivered by Sunwoda from June 2021 to December 2023 had quality issues, leading to significant financial losses, including the principal claim of 2.314 billion yuan plus interest and legal costs [2][3]. - The relationship between Weir Electric and Sunwoda began in April 2021, with the first Zeekr model equipped with Sunwoda cells delivered in October 2021 [2]. Group 2: Market Impact and Financial Losses - Zeekr's rapid delisting from the U.S. market occurred just 19 months after its IPO, resulting in a direct loss of approximately 3.5 billion yuan for Geely, which raised concerns about the company's financial health and strategic decisions [7][8]. - The IPO raised a total of 3.62 billion yuan, but after accounting for underwriting fees and other costs, the net external funding was only about 1.496 billion yuan [8]. - Geely's total cash outlay for the privatization was around 24 billion yuan, with a significant portion of shareholders opting for cash payouts, leading to a direct cash loss of about 5 billion yuan [8]. Group 3: Quality Issues and Customer Feedback - The battery cells in question were primarily used in the Zeekr 001 WE86 model, which saw over 70,000 units sold in 2022, with more than 60% of those being the WE86 version [3]. - Customers reported issues such as slow charging speeds and discrepancies in advertised range, with complaints escalating in 2023 regarding battery performance and safety concerns [3][4]. - By the end of 2023, Weir Electric began reducing purchases from Sunwoda, shifting to products from CATL and Geely's own battery company [4]. Group 4: Strategic Implications of the Lawsuit - If Zeekr wins the lawsuit, the compensation could significantly improve its financial metrics, including net profit and cash flow, as the claimed amount exceeds its losses for the first three quarters of 2025 [9]. - The lawsuit could also help restore Zeekr's brand reputation by establishing supplier accountability for quality issues, potentially enhancing its negotiating power in future supply chain discussions [10]. - The timing of the lawsuit, following the delisting, raises questions about whether Geely aimed to avoid disclosure obligations under U.S. regulations, allowing for a more strategic approach to litigation [11][12].