Geely’s Zeekr brand recently introduced its third model – a crossover close in size to the Tesla Model Y, but with a starting price below $30,000 in China.
The Zeekr X will be the latest addition to the all-electric Zeekr lineup, which includes the 009 van and the 001 hatchback. The base price for the X will be ¥189,800 ($27,600) in China, where deliveries will start in June. European sales will follow, but the X will not be sold in the US.
Volvo and Polestar (which are both owned by Geely) were influential in the development of the Zeekr X. The vehicle was designed in Sweden, at a design studio that Zeekr claims is independent. The 001 hatchback inspired the X’s styling.
2023 Zeekr X
The Zeekr X shares the Sustainable Electric Architecture (SEA) platform with Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 electric SUVs, although it is smaller than those two models. At 175 inches long, it shares a similar size to the Volvo XC40 Recharge, but Zeekr is positioning itself as a “premium electric car company”, so the Tesla Model Y could be its biggest competitor.
The automaker claims the Zeekr X has an impressive 3.7-second acceleration from 0-62 mph, with a range of around 348 miles based on China’s CLTC testing cycle. This would be reduced in the US, but it should still be over 250 miles.
2023 Zeekr X
One of the X’s unique features is its sliding touchscreen, which can be manually moved to a position in front of the passenger. This is an alternative to the fixed front-passenger screens offered in Mercedes-EQ electric vehicles. The B-pillar also includes facial recognition and a small screen to show the state of charge.
Zeekr has adopted an “asset light strategy” that relies on suppliers for core technology. For example, the automaker has partnered with CATL to develop EVs with up to 600 miles of range. The Zeekr 009 already features CATL’s cell-to-pack technology, which provides an estimated 514 miles of range on the CLTC testing cycle.
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