Zeekr 7X News
Why you’re about to see a lot more Geelys
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By Tom White · 19 Aug 2026
Geely has announced it plans to double exports as part of a recent earnings call as it seeks aggressive global growth to escape the perils of an extremely competitive Chinese domestic marketLi Shufu, the chairman of Geely Group, which also controls Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Lynk & Co and Zeekr, said the company would achieve these goals not through increased Chinese domestic production, but by increased global production.He said this was because “the world is undergoing a historic shift toward de-globalisation”, in reference to an increase in tariffs across the world that are restricting global trade.Geely Group plans to export 920,000 vehicles for the next financial year, which is more than double the amount of units it shipped last year, as reported by Nikkei Asia.To combat the rise of global tariffs, the company plans to build more cars in Europe, including at a Ford plant in Spain, and at existing Volvo factories, rather than expand production capacity at home.In addition, the company has expanded closer to Australia, including knockdown assembly in Indonesia, a plan to build Zeekrs at Proton facilities in Malaysia, and is said to be in talks to follow its rivals GWM and Chery in setting up manufacturing in Thailand.“De-globalisation” is a major problem for Chinese automakers, which are increasingly seeking higher profits in global markets to escape razor thin margins and shrinking sales in the hyper-competitive Chinese domestic market.Zeekr in particular has been an overperformer for Geely, significantly raising the average sale price of their vehicles. The company said in its most recent financial results that the 9X had become the best-selling car above the equivalent of $100,000 in China, and the brand had nearly doubled volume year-on-year.Australia is perhaps the ideal model for the Chinese giant’s growth aspirations, with both Geely and Zeekr experiencing explosive growth over the past year.Despite a slowly-but-surely new model approach compared to rivals like BYD and Chery, Geely is up over 500 per cent year-on-year and has already surpassed Volkswagen and Honda to become nearly on-par with once-favourites like Subaru and Nissan.Its model range thus far only consists of the EX5 and the related Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid mid-sizers, as well as the new EX2 hatchback. The company will launch the Camry-rivalling Emgrand sedan and a larger SUV in 2027.Zeekr will also expand on its model range, adding the much-hyped 8X large SUV and 9X flagship, both with plug-in hybrid power over the course of 2027. The 7GT electric wagon will be added before the end of 2026. All are expected to add significant volume for the brand.Geely will need to double its volume to challenge its best-selling Chinese rivals in Australia. Chery and MG that have each sold nearly 30,000 vehicles so far in 2026, as well as GWM that has sold over 30,000 units and BYD has crested the 60,000 unit mark, but it is tracking ahead of other new rivals like GAC, XPeng and Omaoda Jaecoo.One thing is clear though. With relatively high margins, success in challenging established players, and a solid array of new products due over the next year, we’ll be seeing a lot more Geelys and Zeekrs on Australian roads.
Toyota is surging again in Australia
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By Tim Gibson · 05 Aug 2026
Australians are still buying cars in greater quantity than ever before, despite tough economic conditions.The new vehicle market recorded its strongest ever July result off the back of the same feat in June. Toyota has had a resurgent month up against its Chinese challengers BYD and Chery, led by its new-generation RAV4 SUV. Electric car sales are also showing no signs of slowing down in Australia, accounting for more than one-in-five cars sold. Chinese brands are becoming a staple high up the sales charts in Australia, with many budget-focused models continuing to drive sales. Toyota achieved 20,409 registrations for July, more than double what BYD managed.The Japanese juggernaut has taken out the top-two spots for July with its RAV4 family SUV and HiLux ute.The RAV4 has shot up the sale charts to take out pole position, with 5564 units, wrestling back against early supply issues plaguing the new version of the hugely popular family model. Plug-in hybrid variants of the RAV4 have received some serious attention from buyers, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the SUV's total sales.Toyota's HiLux ute was not far behind, boasting 4721 units and overtaking the Ford Ranger (4042) in July. The brand also experienced its best month in 2026 for its Land Cruiser Prado and 300 Series 4WDs.Fully-electric cars represented more than one-fifth of all sales in July, with rising fuel prices continuing to influence buyer choices.The Tesla Model Y registered another month as the best-selling EV in Australia, with 4644 units in July between its five- (2215) and six-seater (2429) variants according to EV Council data. BYD’s Sealion 7 mid-size SUV was another strong performer, with 2548 examples sold last month, keeping its tag as the brand’s best-selling model for another month.The Geely EX5 (2034) made another appearance in the top 10 best sellers, followed by the Zeekr 7X (1892). The Chery Tiggo 4 (2156) small SUV has continued its run as one of the best-selling small SUVs, holding off competition from the Hyundai Kona (2096) and Mazda CX-5 (1836).BYD held onto second position in the overall sales standings for July (7857), despite a noticeable drop-off from June. In addition to the Sealion 7, its Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute registered another confident registration figure, with 1216 units, along with the Atto 2 small SUV (1214).Chery, Geely, GWM and MG all made the top 10 best-selling brands for the month.
Top 11 fastest charging electric cars
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By Jack Quick · 04 Aug 2026
Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular in Australia as people transition from owning combustion- or hybrid-powered vehicles.One major consideration that many people have when considering which EV to buy is how much range it offers, but another factor that should be considered is how quickly the battery can be charged.EV and battery technology is continually evolving, but here is a rundown of the 11 EVs with the highest DC fast-charging rate that are either already on sale or confirmed for a launch in Australia.It’s worth noting that the fastest DC fast-chargers in Australia currently are 400kW and these are operated by AmpCharge. However, Denza has confirmed that it’s rolling out its 1500kW ‘Flash’ charging network at its dealers by late 2026 or early 2027.The forthcoming Denza Z9 GT electric shooting brake will launch in Australia in either late 2026 or early 2027, alongside the ‘Flash’ charging network.Final specifications have yet to be locked in, but peak DC fast-charging is up to 1500kW. This allows a 10 to 97 per cent charge in nine minutes.The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door, which is due in Australia during 2027, offers a peak DC fast-charging rate of 600kW.This allows the 111kWh lithium-ion battery pack to charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 11 minutes. It offers up to 460km of WLTP-claimed range.The XPeng X9 electric people mover has a peak DC fast-charging rate of up to 542kW. This allows for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 12 minutes.Two versions are available, the FWD Standard Range and AWD Performance.The former has a 94.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with up to 535km of WLTP-claimed range. The latter has a larger 110kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery with up to 580km of WLTP-claimed range.The recently revealed BMW iX5 will launch in Australia around mid-2027 and will follow after the launch of the new, petrol-powered X5 variants later this year.The iX5 60 xDrive is the only variant to be detailed so far and it offers a peak DC fast-charging rate of 460kW.It has a 141kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 10 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 23 minutes. It offers up to 845km of WLTP-claimed range.The updated version of the XPeng G6 with the larger 80.8kWh LFP battery has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 451kW. It’s currently the highest in Australia.A 10 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 12 minutes.In RWD Long Range form there’s up to 525km of range and in AWD Performance form there’s up to 510km, according to WLTP testing.While the entry-level G6 RWD Standard Range with its smaller 68.5kWh can only DC fast-charge at rates up to 382kW, it’s still claimed to take 12 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 per cent. It offers up to 480km of WLTP-claimed range.The entry-level Zeekr 7X RWD with its 75kWh LFP battery can DC fast-charge at rates up to 450kW. It offers up to 480km of WLTP-claimed range.The 7X Long Range RWD and Performance AWD, on the other hand, with its larger 100kWh NMC battery can charge at rates up to 420kW. WLTP-claimed range is 615km and 543km, respectively.Mirroring the Zeekr 7X SUV, the forthcoming, entry-level version of the 7GT electric shooting brake has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 450kW. It has a 75kWh LFP battery and can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 13 minutes.Other versions of the 7GT have a larger 100kWh NMC battery that can charge at rates up to 420kW.The top-spec BMW iX3 50 xDrive has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 400kW.It has a 108.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 10 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 21 minutes. It offers up to 805km of WLTP-claimed range.The entry-level iX3 40 with its slightly smaller 82.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 300kW. Despite this, a 10 to 80 per cent charge is still claimed to take 21 minutes. It offers up to 635km of WLTP-claimed range.The MG IM5 Platinum RWD and Performance AWD have a peak DC fast-charging rate of 396kW.They both have a 100kWh NMC battery pack and WLTP-claimed range of 655km and 575km, respectively. A 30 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 15 minutes.The entry-level IM5 Premium RWD, on the other hand, has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 153kW. It has a 75kWh LFP battery, up to 490km of WLTP-claimed range and a 30 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 20 minutes.The MG IM6 Platinum RWD and Performance AWD have a peak DC fast-charging rate of 396kW.They both have a 100kWh NMC battery pack and WLTP-claimed range of 555km and 505km, respectively. A 30 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 15 minutes.The entry-level IM5 Premium RWD, on the other hand, has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 153kW. It has a 75kWh LFP battery, up to 450km of WLTP-claimed range and a 30 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 20 minutes.The forthcoming Porsche Cayenne Electric offers a peak DC fast-charging rate of 390kW.It has a 113kWh lithium-ion battery pack and up to 542km of WLTP-claimed range. A 10 to 80 per cent charge is claimed to take 16 minutes.While Hyundai, Kia and Genesis models on the E-GMP platform, like the Ioniq 5, EV6 and GV60, among others, display a claimed 10 to 80 per cent charge time when plugged into a 350kW DC fast-charger, a common misconception is they have a peak DC fast-charging rate of 350kW.However, this is not the case. None of the aforementioned Hyundai Group brands quote an official peak charging rate, but real-world data indicates it’s around 240kW.
Cost of fast charging your electric car
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By Tim Gibson · 28 Jul 2026
The cost of electric car charging has been the subject of much discussion.Fast charging remains one of the biggest hurdles to convincing potential buyers to make the EV switch.It is widely accepted fast charging an electric car is cheaper than filling up a petrol or diesel car.But just how much cheaper is it? The answer is complicated. There are several factors impacting the price you pay for public fast charging. The rate of pay is measured in dollars or cents per kWh. This rate fluctuates depending on whether you are charging in peak time or off-peak time, the same as with home electricity bills.The charger's kW output will impact how much you pay, generally the higher the max output the more you pay. There are circumstances where a slower rate of charge can be more expensive when comparing locations.This speed is altered if the terminal is charging multiple cars at once, but the price does not change. Unlike filling a fuel tank, an EV battery should rarely be fully charged, which is why manufacturers quote a 20 to 80 per cent charge time for DC charging.We’ve done our best to calculate how much it would cost for a 40kWh charge, which could equate to rougly 20 to 80 per cent for an average EV. This article only provides a rough guide and is not a wholly accurate representation of how much someone will pay to charge their EV. It only looks at DC charging of a minimum of 50kW. Charging station operators such as JOLT that only provide 25kW charging have not been included. Ampol has a major EV infrastructure outlay in Australia, but it does not publicly list its prices online, so it is not included. Tesla chargers can be used to charge non-Tesla cars, but are generally 10-15 cents more expensive than for a Tesla car.We have categorised charging rates into three categories. 50-75kW150kW-240kW300kW-plusTesla does not have a discernible number of available chargers for Sydney in the first two categories.Where a charging company has two or more power options within a band, the price per kWh has been averaged.The prices have been taken from the broader Sydney area during peak time on Wednesday 15th July 2026.Off-peak charging is more likely to be done using a home charger overnight.Price per kWh in Sydney NSW:Price for 40kWh
The best-selling EVs in Australia revealed
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By Tom White · 08 Jul 2026
Electric cars are finally having their mainstream moment in Australia, and now make up over 16 per cent of Australia’s new car market.Sales have significantly jumped year-on-year, helped along by a much wider availability of more affordable models, but also an unprecedented fuel crisis, which has made the cost of running a petrol- or diesel-powered vehicle front of mind for many.This surge of new options has also seen the list of top-selling electric cars undergo a significant re-shuffle, with new brands featuring heavily.Tesla notably takes the crown for the best selling EV in Australia for the first half of 2026, with its Model Y achieving 20,396 total registrations according to Electric Vehicle Council data. This is due to an eyebrow-raising 8072 unit tally in June thanks to a literal boatload of cars arriving.Next down the charts is BYD with its smash-hit Sealion 7 mid-size SUV. The Sealion 7, which is a key rival to the Model Y, can be had at a more keen $54,990 price-point with similar specs to the Tesla that starts from $58,900 before on-roads.Alongside the plug-in hybrid Shark 6, the Sealion 7 is a major part of BYD’s success story in Australia over the past year.The next two players down compete at the entry-level to their respective segments.Geely’s EX5 clocked up 6756 registrations in the first half of 2026, a quiet achiever in an extremely competitive part of the market. While it goes into battle against a range of rivals in the $40,000 price bracket, it has more than doubled the sales of its closest rival, the previously-popular BYD Atto 3, and it sold 20 times the volume of the similar Leapmotor C10.Below the EX5 is the Jaecoo J5. While this model is now available with petrol power, it is the EV version that has been on sale longer and managed to secure fourth position for the first half of the year, racking up 6113 units.This is no doubt largely thanks to the electric version’s extremely keen $36,990 before on-roads price-tag and generous dimensions for a small SUV, making it the sweet spot for many first time EV adopters. It also undercuts the Atto 3 and Leapmotor B10, and has good visibility in the market thanks to Omoda Jaecoo’s rapidly expanding dealer network.Rounding out the top five electric cars in Australia for the first half of 2026 is the Zeekr 7X. A smash hit for Geely’s premium arm. The 7X stands out for its radical design and strong specs at a generous price point (from $57,900 before on-roads). As a result, the brand tells us that it is attracting not only aspirational buyers, but also buyers who were previously driving BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes.Previous top-sellers, the Model 3 and BYD Atto 3, have now dropped out of the top five, amassing a little over 3000 sales each. Kia’s also-popular EV5 mid-size and EV3 SUVs fell short of the list with less than 3000 sales each.All of the electric cars in the top five for the first half of the year were built in China, with the exception of the Performance grade of the Tesla Model Y (which would account for only a small proportion of its sales), showing the country’s leadership in the electric car space.Mainstream brands are struggling on the EV front, with cars like the Toyota bZ4X mid-size SUV amassing just 1718 sales. Volkswagen is in a similar position, with its similar ID.4 amassing just 1183 sales.Even MG, which was the original Chinese-backed success story in Australia, has tumbled down the charts. Its MG4 hatch has lost hundreds of sales year-on-year. Its S5 and S6 electric SUVs are struggling to compete with newer players, amassing just 1713 and 647 sales respectively.The share of EV sales in the Australian market will inevitably grow as tough new emissions laws start to shape the line-ups of most brands.
How China is cornering the market
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By Tom White · 05 Jun 2026
For the first time in Australia, electric cars are outselling diesel ones in what appears to be a major turning point for the Australian market.The latest data, compiled from both the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council, shows registrations of electric cars have more than doubled year-on-year, and now account for just under 20 per cent of Australia’s new car market.This is the culmination of multiple factors, including an influx of affordable Chinese models as the country’s behemoth manufacturers seek export markets to flee tough local conditions, and Australia’s new vehicle efficiency standards (NVES) heavily incentivise lower-emissions models, either to avoid fines or rack up credits.On top of this, skyrocketing fuel prices have clearly made many Australians think twice about committing to another combustion car, and the prospect of government incentives ending further down the track as outlined in the latest federal budget has no doubt only bolstered the latest figures.Digging into the data and one thing becomes obvious - amongst the 10 best-selling EVs, all of them were built in China. In what should come as a warning to legacy automakers yet to embrace “China Speed” as part of their business model in our market, even the most successful models from Tesla and Kia are built in China.This trend looks to continue, with Mazda the next brand to introduce Chinese joint-venture models via the Mazda 6e sedan and CX-6e SUV, both of which use Changan platforms. The Japanese giant will no doubt be betting heavily on these two models to reduce its market-leading projected fine under the new NVES rules.Nissan will also begin to introduce its array of successful-in-China Dongfeng-based models in the coming years, with Suzuki, Toyota and Volkswagen potentially being left behind as they continue to source cars from more traditional manufacturing locations like Japan, Thailand and Europe.May in particular was a bumper one, not just for market leader Tesla, but also for keen newcomers Jaecoo and Geely. BYD dominates nearly half of the top-10 charts, including the Atto 2 and Atto 1, which both arrived in 2026.EV Sales May 2026The year-to-date numbers paint a slightly different, but overall familiar story, with the Model Y managing to maintain its lead over the Sealion 7.Some year-to-date surprises include Geely’s EX5 rising to third place and Jaecoo’s aggressively-priced J5 has largely captured the entry-level EV space.Zeekr has had a huge year off the back of the launch of its 7X as it keeps up with its big order bank, and Kia has managed to hold onto 9th place with its relatively popular EV5.The Tesla Model 3 is in seventh place and is the only sedan on the list.EV sales year-to-date 2026It is hard to say what this chart will look like by the end of 2026, although the complete and ongoing re-shuffle of Australia’s favourite cars looks to continue. One thing is for sure though, China has the market well and truly cornered on fully electric cars in Australia.
Australia's 10 most popular EVs
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By Tim Gibson · 04 Jun 2026
The electric vehicle revolution is in full swing after another standout month in Australia. There were 21,303 EVs sold in May 2026, as they continue to take hold at the expense of petrol- and diesel-powered cars. SUVs remain the dominant player in the electric segment, accounting for nine of the 10 best sellers.Tesla’s smashing May performance was headlined by 5605 sales for its Model Y SUV, cementing its position as the leading EV in Australia.The Model Y also claimed the title for the best-selling car in Australia last month. The Jaecoo J5 EV had its best month on sale since it hit Aussie showrooms at the start of this year, selling 2126 units, up from less than 700 in April. This makes the J5 the best-selling small SUV in the country currently, even outselling its closely related and cheaper petrol sibling, the Chery Tiggo 4. The Geely EX5 also surged up the sales charts, achieving 1814 sales, while the BYD Sealion 7 experienced another bumper month, with 1538 sales. The Zeekr 7X rounds out the top five following a continued solid performance since its introduction late last year. BYD’s budget EV trio the Atto 3, Atto 2 and Atto 1 shifted more than 2000 units between them.The BYD Seal (580) is the only non-SUV on this list.Every car in the top 10 selling EVs for May is primarily built in China, with none coming from legacy brands. Some of the other EVs to miss out on a top 10 spot include the MG4 as well as Kia's EV3 and EV5 duo.Top selling electric cars May 2026
Chinese cars in ‘uncharted territory’
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By Tom White · 03 Jun 2026
Chinese cars have entered “uncharted territory”, according to Vice President of Geely Group Li Chuanhai.Chuanhai explained that as Chinese automakers became global entities, they could no longer rely on challenging the status quo of so-called legacy brands, but would have to innovate on their own if they want to move the industry forward.“Franky, the Chinese automotive industry has reached its current position by standing on the shoulders of giants in the century-old automotive industry,” he said.“But now that we’re taking the lead, we have entered uncharted territory. How do we innovate in uncharted territory? I think our logic for innovation needs to change."He said Geely was well positioned to provide multiple power options, such as as petrol, hybrid and EV, across many markets, but there would still be the need to innovate further in the future.“Geely adheres to its energy diversification strategy. Our Thor hybrid, SEA EV, i-HEV, and green methanol developed over 20 years have created a complete ecosystem covering pure electric, hybrid, range extender, methanol, and charging/battery swapping. We’ve successfully explored every path to provide global users with more choices,” he said.Chuanhai outlined some investments Geely was making including collaborations with “more than 50 universities on basic research”. He said this “may not yield immediate returns” for the group, but that innovation required “adequate resource investment, effective ecosystem collaboration, and sufficient talent density”.Chuanhai earmarked the success of its premium Zeekr arm as evidence Geely had moved beyond its challenger status.“We don't have the time to build the brand story that century-old established brands have accumulated over time,” he said.“New energy and intelligent technologies have brought us opportunities for brand advancement. However, we also believe that the foundation for brand advancement lies in safety, chassis and powertrain—areas that best reflect our core professional capabilities."He said the brand is aiming for Volvo’s ultimate safety, Lotus’ ultimate handling and Horse Powertrain’s ultimate performance.He said the 750,000 units Zeekr has delivered in its short existence have an average selling price of more than the equivalent of $62,000, comparatively very high for a Chinese brand, with the national average being a little over half that ($35,000).“The essence of Chinese automotive globalisation is not about low prices and high volume, but about being rooted in technology and driven by brands, ultimately moving from simply selling cars to defining the future of automobiles,” he said.“We hope that Geely's experience can serve as a model for Chinese automakers going global, and we believe that China's automotive industry is fully capable of winning respect and establishing a firm foothold in the world.”Next for Geely in Australia will be its EX2 fully electric hatchback, which will be followed by the Emgrand EM-i plug-in hybrid sedan. Zeekr will launch its flagship 9X plug-in hybrid large SUV before the end of the year, alongside the 7GT fully-electric performance wagon.In 2027, the much-hyped 8X large five-seat hybrid SUV will arrive, with Geely also plotting a yet-to-be confirmed three-row hybrid SUV offering.
Zeekr 7X's game-changing update
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By Tim Gibson · 02 Jun 2026
The Zeekr 7X just got better in Australia following an over-the-air (OTA) update.The OTA upgrades include revamped software and increased functionality for the electric mid-size SUV.It now comes with remote smart parking assist, meaning the vehicle can be moved forwards or backwards through a smartphone, similar to the 'Summon' feature found on Tesla cars.This is only available for Apple smartphone users.The upgrades for iPhone users continues with the addition of digital key functionality. This enables the car to be accessed using an iPhone, removing the need for a conventional physical key or fob. There have also been substantial improvements to the Apple CarPlay system. It runs more smoothly and has improvements to navigation, phone connectivity and entertainment functions. Zeekr further announced adjustments to in-car volume levels for indicator and other notification and alert sounds.The update will be automatically applied to all 7X vehicles.“Our 7X customers are gaining new features that make their vehicle even smarter, easier to live with and more enjoyable to drive,” Zeekr Australia Managing Director Frank Li said. The 7X starts from $57,900 (before on-road costs), with prices rising up to $75,900 for the range-topping special edition Black variant.It has surged up the sales charts since it went on sale towards the end of last year, and will break through the 3000-sale barrier for 2026 imminently. This makes it one of the best-selling EVs in Australia, but it still trails the Model Y and the BYD Sealion 7 by a significant margin.The Model Y does not boast either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, with Tesla’s SUV using its own software to manage communication and navigation.The 7X is Zeekr's most successful model in Australia to date, but the Geely sub-brand is plotting the introduction of several new models by the end of 2027.This includes the much-anticipated 7GT wagon as well as the 8X and 9X luxury large SUVs.
Zeekr’s ultimate objective revealed
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By Tom White · 27 May 2026
Vice President of Zeekr Group Mars Chen explained what the Chinese luxury brand’s ultimate objective is.Some of its Chinese rivals frequently cite the huge and lucrative US market as the ultimate aspiration, Zeekr’s goal is somehow both more subtle and loftier at the same time.“We are not a ‘real’ luxury brand yet, right?” Chen said. “We’re still only five years old.”“I think it’s to be the top premium choice, with or without a battery,” he said.“In the end, it’s if people don’t mention whether it’s an EV or it’s a hybrid. You need a nice, expensive, fancy car? Zeekr is a brand you absolutely must check. It’s one you cannot avoid.”Chen wasn’t so keen on factoring the US into Zeekr’s immediate plans for the future."With the US market, if you take out pick-ups, then the passenger car market is not that big. It is a big cake, but still, without that cake we’d like to make a very nice meal,” said Chen.Chen said the brand was discussing the potential of a ute or pick-up truck to add to Zeekr’s expanding range of headline-grabbing models.Interestingly one factor which the brand was considering is how tightly contested the segment was becoming, with seemingly every Chinese automaker scrabbling to release a “box-style” hybrid off-roader.Chen said a potential for a ute or US-style pick-up truck is just a discussion for now.“We want to re-define every single segment. Once we identify the segment, Zeekr will check how disruptive we can be if we enter. We have the curiosity to do it, but it’s not a concrete thing.”“If we cannot create enough differentiation, of course we won’t just follow or replicate ,” he said.Chen said Zeekr’s strategy is to focus on just a few consolidated models, rather than cars that are “customised just for one country. Even just China”.“If we want to be in that segment, we have to be a global brand.”Zeekr’s model range as it stands is limited to the X small SUV, 009 People Mover, 7X mid-size SUV, 007 and 7GT sedan and wagon pair, as well as the incoming 8X large SUV and 9X flagship.For the Australian market, the brand has shot from relative obscurity in its first year on the market to a front runner in the EV space, thanks to the arrival of its extremely competitive 7X mid-sizer.The model has gone on to become the fourth-best-selling electric vehicle in the country, racking up 973 units to the end of April, trailing only the Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7 and Geely EX5 in that order.The 9X and 8X large SUVs which are set to follow in the next 12 months will shift the brand to plug-in hybrid territory and have already created quite some hype in the market, despite asking prices looking like they’ll start well and truly in premium territory.