Five people were injured when a Zeekr display car ploughed through people at a vehicle exhibit in China.

The grey Zeekr X allegedly lurched forward and smashed into a BYD car at the Nanjing International New Energy Vehicle Exhibition in Nanjing on March 24.

Footage shows an emotional man in a yellow-green jacket shouting at the driver inside the Zeekr EV while several people, including a boy, lay injured on the floor.

Authorities said five were taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

In a statement, Zeekr, the EV arm of Chinese car manufacturer Geely, apologised to the public and said the display car was 'not set in exhibition mode' but was instead in a 'parking enjoy mode' with the car key in effective range.

The company added that a nationwide inspection of its display vehicles has been ordered to prevent similar accidents from occurring.