Israeli CEO Leads Electric Car Brand ZEEKR to 2,500 Annual Sales Amid Conflict
At 44 years old, the CEO of the electric car brand ZEEKR in Israel has built a remarkable career from humble beginnings. Born in Haifa as the eldest of three siblings, he developed a passion for vehicles early on, starting with collecting and repairing four Lada Niva cars by age 20. After serving in an elite infantry unit in the IDF, he pursued a business degree and began his automotive career at SEAT in Haifa, where he innovated sales strategies during a brand downturn.
He later held product management roles at Mercedes and sales leadership at Lexus during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, he took on the challenge of launching ZEEKR, a Chinese luxury electric vehicle brand, in Israel amid ongoing regional conflict. Despite logistical delays caused by Houthi maritime terrorism, the first cars arrived in late November 2023, and the company sold 1,000 vehicles within the first 100 days.
Today, ZEEKR has delivered approximately 6,000 cars in Israel over two and a half years, growing from a five-person team to nearly 60 employees. Nearly 60% of their customers previously owned premium German brands such as Audi, Mercedes, Volvo, and BMW. The flagship model, ZEEKR 7X, priced at 280,000 shekels, competes directly with German luxury vehicles. The CEO describes the brand as the "holy grail" for its Chinese manufacturer Geely, emphasizing the intense drive for success.
Looking ahead, he aspires to lead a large company beyond the automotive sector, seeking new challenges. Outside work, he enjoys playing piano and has recently resumed the hobby with his children.
