Zeekr 7X 2026 News

Electric cars are more reliable than petrol and diesel ones, according to a new study of almost 50 million vehicle roadworthy checks.It’s a topic of heated discussion all over internet forums: are EVs more reliable and lower maintenance than their combustion equivalents.A commonly held belief is that because electric cars have far fewer parts compared to petrol and diesel ones, there’s less to go wrong. That makes sense on the surface, but there could be actual proof now thanks to a study in the United Kingdom by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA).Vehicles in the UK that are more than three-years-old are required by law to pass a yearly roadworthy and safety check - also known as an MOT (Ministry of Transport) - to be registered.In NSW, vehicles older than five years need a roadworthy certificate - the equivalent of a British MOT.The MOT requires a thorough check of a vehicle’s brakes, tyres, wheels, steering, suspension, lights, windscreen wipers, body structure and emissions to ensure all are in safe working order.The BVRLA study found EVs are more durable over time, and as the age of combustion vehicles increases, so does the maintenance requirements.The study examined the 47.7 million vehicles that underwent a roadworthy and safety test for registration from 2024-2026. Specifically the study looked at test failure rates. This was also correlated with data from 863 million historical tests.The study found that in the first 32,000-97,000km there was very little difference in the failure rates of both EVs and combustion cars. The results revealed 12 per cent of EVs that attempted the test failed, compared to 11.7 per cent of combustion vehicles.After about 100,000km the results get interesting. EV failure rates plateaued at 16.5 per cent while the failure rate of combustion cars increased steadily.From 145,000km-193,000km the failure rate for EVs remained at 16.5 per cent but for combustion it was 22.1 per cent.Above 193,000km EV failure rate actually decreased to 16 per cent while combustion continued to rise to 23.5 per cent.  Combustion vehicles have about 20,000 moving parts in their drivetrain, and EVs have only about 20. And while combustion engines have been developed over a hundred years to be super reliable, efficient and robust, the sheer number of metal and rubber components under the incredible heat and strain of constant use have a limited lifespan. From pistons and crankshafts, transmissions and driveshafts, to the fuel and cooling systems, the brakes and exhaust, combustion cars work hard and wear out faster.Electric cars do have weaknesses - some highlighted by the findings of the study and some we know as motoring journalists.The study found tyres wear out 1.8 times faster on an EV than a combustion car. This could be down to a combination of a number of factors we know cause tyre wear such as the heavy weight of EVs and the colossal torque electric cars can send to their wheels.We also know that EVs tend to have more technical problems from software issues to battery fade.Another interesting takeaway from the study is older EVs are not disappearing from British roads, with 94.6 per cent of electric cars over 15 years old continuing to come back for their annual check 2.5 years later.That said, new EVs are arriving on the market with better electric architecture, which ensure not just better driving range but systems capable of handling faster charging.The 2026 Zeekr 7X for example has 800V architecture and a 100kWh battery, while the 2020 Nissan Leaf has 400V architecture and a 62kWh battery.  

To be honest I didn’t think this would happen so fast but it really does appear the end is nigh for the internal combustion engine in Australia, because for the first time sales of electric cars have overtaken petrol ones. So how does Australia compare for EVs sales compared to the rest of the world? Australia is punching well above its weight. Australia is ranked high when it comes to EV sales compared to the world, but wait until you see how high.Australians bought 27,089 electric vehicles in August, which represent 24.9 per cent of the market. Not included in this are hybrids or plug-in hybrids, and that makes this number even more significant.In comparison the total sales of petrol cars in August, including light commercial vehicles, came to 25,824.August’s sales came off the back of a bumper July total of 23,510, but they weren’t the largest recorded - that claim to fame goes to June with 32,570 sales. August was a big month for EV sales in other parts of the world, too.Sales of EVs in France reached a record 38 per cent of the market or 36,159 electric cars. Quick reminder: Australia for the same month has 24.9 per cent and 27,089 electric cars.Let me also tell you that France is placed fourth in the world rankings for August EV sales.Of course this is nothing compared to China’s EV sales, which were approximately one million for August.Yes, China sold the same number of electric cars in August as the almost the combined sales of petrol, diesel, EV, and hybrids in Australia in any given year.With China in the No.1 place; in second place for August is Germany with 68,930 sales; then in third is the United States with about 65,000; then France with its 36,159; followed by the United Kingdom with 27,876; and then in sixth place is Australia with 27,089.We just missed out on being in the top 5 for August EV sales.Australia’s year-to-date battery electric vehicle sales through to the end of August come to 154,313.This places Australia in seventh place globally for the year so far, behind China in first place with approximately 6.06 million sales; then in second place is the US with about 500,000 sales; then Germany in third with 446,615; the UK is in fourth with 327,683; then France with 322,097; and then South Korea with 272,000.Petrol sales year to date have reached 243,673, which is 89,360 sales of the 154,313 EV sales.So while monthly sales of EVs are beginning to overtake petrol car sales, we won't see the electric car sales total for the year eclipse those of petrol in 2026.A recent report from the NRMA found there are approximately 500,000 EVs on Australian roads and this accounted for just three per cent of the total number of registered vehicles. But as we have seen by the monthly figures EV sales are at a high level and staying high. The NRMA said by 2040 10 per cent of registered vehicles will be EVs, and modelling by the CSIRO predicts by 2050 97 per cent of all light passenger cars will be battery electric vehicles.The Tesla Model Y is not just the biggest selling EV, it's also is the best selling of all cars in Australia right now with 6414 sold in August.The BYD Sealion 7 electric SUV with 2213 sales is the fifth best-selling car in Australia, while the Zeekr 7X is in ninth place with 1748 sales.

The Zeekr 7X could be about to get a new addition to its Australian line-up, with reports of an 85kWh fast charging battery variant being added to the range.The news comes fresh out of China where government regulations require carmakers to publicly publish the specifications of upcoming vehicles. Zeekr’s published filing details an upcoming rear-wheel drive 7X that is the same in every way to the current model, but will have a bigger 85kWh battery. It offers quick charging and impressive range, while keeping weight and cost down.The new 85kWh battery for the Zeekr 7X is a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, up from the 75kWh unit in the current base 7X in Australia.Currently the 7X line-up consists of a 75kWh LFP battery variant and a 100kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery variant. NMC batteries are more energy dense and heavy, but offer long ranges and more power. LFP on the other hand are more thermally stable, can handle being charged more often to 100 per cent and are cheaper as they do without certain rare metals such as cobalt.Zeekr hasn’t disclosed the range of the 85kWh battery, but it will fall between the 480km (WLPT) range of the 75kWh unit and the 615km (WLPT) of the 100kWh NMC battery.An electric vehicle with more than 500km of real world driving range is a preferable choice and the 85kWh battery is likely to offer this extra distance over the 75kWh variant.CarsGuide has reached out to Zeekr Australia to find out if and when the 85kWh variant will join the 7X line-up, but the company has yet to respond.As for the price Australians could expect this to fall between the $57,900 list price of the  75kWh 7X and the $63,900 of the 100kWh 7X.

Aussie car buyers can’t get enough of the Tesla Model Y right now.Tesla’s mid-size SUV topped the sales charts for August 2026, fending off three Toyota models in the latest set of data. Total car sales held relatively steady in August, with plenty of the usual players occupying the top spots. Electric cars are also making an impact Down Under.Four electric-only models made featured in the top 10 last month.The Tesla Model Y surged to the top of the monthly standings once again, with 6414 sales as its new three-row Model Y L experienced sustained popularity.Combining sales of its Model 3 sedan, Tesla was the third best-selling brand in the country. Toyota’s near 20,000 sales was the best out of any brand, and saw it occupy second, third and fourth on the standings. Its new RAV4 continues to impress (5470), followed by the Hilux ute (4833) that now holds a healthy lead over its arch rival the Ford Ranger (2440). Sales numbers start to drop off after the HiLux, with the Prado’s 2475 rounding out the top four. The Ford Ranger ute experienced another decline in August 2026, falling to fifth position on the standings (2440).The Ranger has been the best-selling car in Australia for the last three consecutive years, but sales decreased in August 2026 by more than 50 per cent compared to August 2025.  The next five cars were from Chinese brands as they increased their grasp over the Australian market. The BYD Sealion 7 mid-size SUV finished in sixth place (2213), followed by the Chery Tiggo 4 small SUV (2012), with the Geely EX5 registering 1947 examples last month. BYD may only have had one car in the top 10, but it was the second best-selling brand in Australia in August 2026.Key Tiggo 4 rival, the GWM Haval Jolion, sold 1891 units, while the Zeekr’s 7X sold 1748 units last month. The Isuzu D-Max took out ninth spot for the month (1708), with the Hyundai Kona finishing off the top 10 with 1688 sales. 

The number of Australians willing to buy an electric car has increased dramatically, with now only 17 percent of people stating they wouldn’t consider an EV according to a report by the NRMA.Australian tastes are rapidly changing when it comes to how we want our vehicles powered. And while combustion vehicles still rule our roads with the majority of new cars bought still have petrol and diesel engines, the uptake of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hybrids and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) is increasing.According to the NRMA’s latest Changing Gears report 31 percent of Australians in 2026 would consider a battery electric vehicle (BEV) compared to 20 percent in 2024.Additionally, consideration of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) has increased from 41 percent in 2024 to 58 percent in 2026.The report also found that the number of Australians who would not consider an EV was now just 17 percent.The Changing Gears report found that lower prices of electric cars, better infrastructure and rising petrol costs were some of the main motivating factors for the change in attitudes towards EVs.“There’s no doubt 2026 has been the tipping point for EV adoption. More affordable vehicles, expanded charging infrastructure and government incentives have all helped move EVs into the mainstream,” NRMA CEO Julie Batch said.“At the same time, rising petrol prices and concerns about long-term fuel security have given consumers even more reason to consider an EV.” The NRMA report found several barriers, both real and perceived, were preventing Australians from considering an electric car.Of the 17 percent of people who would not consider an EV, the biggest concern was battery life with 60 percent saying this was a major barrier; 56 percent also felt that driving range was also a substantial reason not to buy an EV; 54 percent saw charging time as a factor that put them off; and finally 52 percent also felt fire risk stood in the way of them purchasing an electric car.“Some of the concerns we see around battery health and safety don't reflect the reality of modern EVs, but that doesn't mean they should be ignored. The challenge is helping Australians separate fact from fiction and to make decisions based on reliable information," Ms Batch said.“For example, independent battery testing is already widely available and can provide buyers with a clear picture of a battery's condition. When it comes to fires, EV battery fires are extremely rare and when charged correctly, there’s virtually zero fire risk.”The NRMA says that approximately 500,000 EVs are currently on Australian roads accounting for about three percent of the nation's entire number of registered cars.This number is expected to rise to approximately 10 percent by 2030, with CSIRO modelling  predicting that 97 percent of light passenger cars will be electric by 2050.Right now affordable Chinese EVs are proving hugely popular with Australians. Electric SUVs such as the BYD Sealion 7, Geely EX5 and Zeekr 7X are now more popular than past Aussie combustion favourites such as the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester.

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.

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.

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

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.

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