Zeekr 9X News

Zeekr is warning of potentially long wait lists for its upcoming range of much-hyped cars, telling CarsGuide expressions of interest were building “faster than expected.” Speaking at the Everything Electric show in Sydney, Zeekr Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Frank Li said he was expecting there to be extended delivery times for the 7GT electric station wagon as well as the 8X and 9X large plug-in hybrid SUVs set to arrive in 2027 as the order banks grow in Australia and across the world. “We anticipate that 7GT might actually have a longer wait list than 7X did,” he said, adding “9X and 8X really have this huge interest. Every time I attend an event - even things not related to cars at all, I will have people try and place an order with me.” “The order bank is growing fast. Faster than we expected. There’s huge hype amongst our customers. We’re even seeing some families flying 8X across from China.” Li said the overwhelming reception to these new models in the markets they have already launched in, like the UAE and even the Chinese domestic market, was creating bottlenecks for the company. “It’s not just production capacity, but the whole supply chain. Shipping, logistics, even delivery centres can hold things up.” Li said that while the 8X and 9X “will bring Zeekr to the next level in Australia” in terms of volume, he warned availability would be severely limited. “I strongly recommend that buyers place a deposit if they want one. They need to make sure they are in that line so once the car is launched they can get into it as soon as possible.” The 7X mid-size SUV, which launched at an unprecedented price-point for a premium electric mid-sizer of $57,900, before on-road costs, rapidly became one of the fastest-selling EVs in Australia. By the end of August this year, it was the ninth best selling car in the country overall. However, some customers were left waiting some time for delivery as the brand struggled to keep up with demand. Li’s warning about potentially even worse wait times bodes well for the brand long-term, which is even more ambitious than it was when it arrived in Australia just two years ago. When asked if Zeekr could be the number one luxury brand in the country, leapfrogging once-favourites like Audi BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Li said recent developments make that a possibility, but sales targets aren’t his primary concern. “When we launched the brand, not just in Australia but globally, we were always hoping to become the best-selling premium EV brand, but with PHEV coming with 8X and 9X I think we can have some bigger ambitions of trying to become the best-selling premium brand,” he said. “But, apart from sales volume, it’s more important for us actually to have that customer satisfaction and the attitude toward the Zeekr brand. “If you were to ask me about what the brand looks like in three years I wouldn’t have a volume target to share with you, but after three years if we’re surveying customers when we ask about premium brands, Zeekr needs to be one of their top considerations. So this is more important than volume. That’s my target.” To that end, Li said the brand’s dealers would be asked to build a more premium experience in order to set Zeekr apart from its myriad of rivals and soon-to-arrive competitors like Avatr from Changan or Wey from GWM. “We’re not aiming for this big number of dealers, and for them to just change their logo and start selling cars. That’s not what we want, we want to build the customer experience properly.” He said the brand’s big investments in track events, dining and experiences were part of keeping its buyers engaged for longer “after we’ve handed over the keys”. It may even result in the Australian market scoring its own option packs, as the brand welcomes buyer feedback on track days and modifications. “Actually, we’ve already got customers showing us modifications they’ve done themselves,” Li said. “We’re developing some OEM-backed modifications for the Australian market. These are the kinds of lifestyle things we’ll be working on in the future.” Next for Zeekr is the launch of the 7GT which is expected to arrive before the end of 2026 with customer deliveries more likely for early 2027. The 9X three-row large plug-in will follow shortly afterwards, with the 8X due in the second half of 2027.

Zeekr has heard your feedback and more of its cars will get tactile buttons and dials as it moves away from exclusively touchscreen-based controls. Speaking to CarsGuide at a 7GT pre-launch event, the head of the company’s design studio in Shanghai, Javier Garcia-Gallardo said more buttons were “definitely” something that will be put into its cars going forward. “For the 7GT’s predecessor, the 007 sedan, we didn’t have physical controls in the centre console. We got some feedback from the Chinese market back then, so when it came time to adjust it for the 7GT we knew it was something we had to change,” he explained. “They add more functionality for the driver, but also a richer interior feeling at the same time. When we move up the line-up to the bigger cars like the 8X and 9X you can see more physical buttons are coming - so we are taking that feedback on.” “Especially those more material customers who are looking at 8X and 9X, they appreciate those switches and buttons and not having to navigate through the touchscreen to adjust their seat or turn on message functions.” “So for those kinds of features you’re going to be using very often, we’ve made sure they have a switch.” Buttons or not, one thing that sets Zeekr apart from its parent brand, Geely, is its unique and decidedly flashier software suite. Something Garcia-Gallardo said has been a huge benefit for the design team to integrate better into the overall feel of its cars. “We have our own operating system exclusive for us and built from zero,” he said. “It’s taken a couple of years to get it where it is now, but we feel it’s at a point where it’s pretty good in the market. For sure, the design team has been one of the major stakeholders developing that. “Being a platform product, the operating system has over the air updates extremely often, so it takes us a lot of manpower to curate and maintain its constant evolution.” Garcia-Gallardo said Zeekr has evolved past its infancy as a spin-off from sister brand Lynk & Co, and it was set for some bigger changes as it aligns to a more global audience. He said it was a challenge to design for the huge Chinese audience, while catering for global tastes. “We need to design cars which appeal to all markets and balance those considerations and requirements.” “China is a big market for Zeekr, and one of the biggest overall markets in the world, so the demands of that market are extremely important, so we need to appeal to the Chinese market to keep growing and be financially stable.” “As we mature as a company though it’s very important we bring global demands and requirements into the design program at the beginning.” “This was happening less at the start because we didn’t have the same global footprint that we have today, but now that we have a stronger customer base we have a wider set of requirements.” He added customer and media feedback, as well as quirks of local market requirements like Australian Design Rules (ADRs) were “certainly part of my day-to-day design briefings”. ADRs saw the animated LED bar across the front of the car deleted from the 7X and 7GT for the Australian market. When asked how much freedom Zeekr’s designers have when it comes to its new models, Garcia-Gallardo said it was an essential pillar of the brand. “The company trusts a lot in design, especially when it comes to defining proportions of the car, and its architecture. I think that’s what makes a car feel special at first glance. It’s those proportions which makes it feel like it doesn’t simply land in mainstream territory.” He added Zeekr’s future updates and new-generation products would see its range more rationalised into its two main design languages, ‘Hidden Energy’ as worn by the 7X and 7GT, and ‘Powerful Elegance’ as worn by the 8X and 9X hybrid large SUVs. Design elements inherited from Lynk & Co, like the dual-DRLs still seen on the X small SUV and 009 people mover are set to be phased out over time. Zeekr leaps up the charts in Australia, almost entirely thanks to its smash-hit 7X mid-size SUV. It has brought the brand some much needed momentum, which it hopes will be realised with the arrival of the fully electric 7GT sporty station wagon before the end of the year, and the introduction of the 8X and 9X hybrid large SUVs in 2027.

Zeekr is storming up the charts in Australia, targeting luxury and mainstream rivals, proving Chinese brands can be more than just budget-oriented. While rival premium brands like Audi, BMW and Mercedes have such distinctive designs tied to their identities though, you might have noticed Zeekrs all look a bit different. Explaining this quirk of the brand, the head of Zeekr’s design studio in Shanghai Javier Garcia-Gallardo explained why the company had such diverse designs in its portfolio, and how things were going to evolve going forward. “It’s to do with the evolution of Zeekr and how the brand was born,” he said. “You could say we’ve been through three main chapters - the first chapter is the vehicles with heritage from Lynk & Co like the 001, 009 and the X. They are vehicles which transparently were designed to be part of the Lynk & Co brand and transitioned across to the Zeekr brand. “But they weren’t fully there yet, the Zeekr X, for example, still has the dual DRLs from Lynk & Co.” Lynk & Co is Zeekr’s sister company, both premium marques under parent company Geely’s umbrella. Lynk & Co existed first, dating back to 2016, but it has now been re-organised to sit under Zeekr ownership. Zeekr’s first vehicle, the 001, was originally revealed as the Lynk & Co Zero concept in 2020, before Zeekr’s formation in 2021. “The second chapter is where we introduced the ‘Hidden Energy’ language.” Garcia-Gallardo continued, “This is for the 7GT, the 7X and the Zeekr Mix.” This design language originally debuted in 2023 on the 007 sedan on which the 7GT wagon is based. “It was the first exclusively Zeekr design.” Garcia-Gallardo said. “For this, we wanted a shift of mindset for the customer. We wanted it to be very progressive, targeting Generation Z. They are digital natives and perceive technology in the car in a different way from previous generations. “Chapter three is ‘Powerful Elegance’ - our first cars represented by this are the 8X and 9X. These vehicles are targeted at a more material customer and have more traditional automotive design cues, but you can also see some cues from the 009 as well. The grille is very dominant and gives a kind of architectural design to the cars.” Going forward, things are set to line up to the brand’s main two designs, with smaller vehicles to stick to the ‘Hidden Energy’ and larger ones to sport the ‘Powerful Elegance’ look. This is particularly because Zeekr intends to have a more distinctive and instantly-identifiable look going forward as it builds its recognition globally. “The market is flexible, but a consistent design language is important for brand awareness," Garcia-Gallardo said, “we’ve spent the last couple of years evolving and exploring these different languages for different customer bases. What you can expect to see is the design languages will get closer together. “They won’t be ultra-dogmatic between them though - you’ll see some features from the 9X for example being interpreted in a different way on the 7 series vehicles and vice versa. “One example is the detail line which follows the ambient light through the digital instrument panel across the dash from door to door. It’s not as clear on the exteriors yet, but you’ll start to see a bit of horizontality introduced across our model range going forward.” Garcia-Gallardo hinted at other changes and tweaks to the model range going forward, too, which would be based on global feedback as Zeekr becomes more of an international brand. As for the Lynk & Co and Zeekr split, the two could be thought of as the Chinese side of the Volvo/Polestar equation (two similar brands with different purposes), although Lynk & Co and its sportier and largely hybrid offerings remains squarely aimed at Europe where it is headquartered for the time being rather than right-hand drive markets like Australia. Instead, we’ll be an important export focus for the Zeekr brand, which is headquartered in China. A plan to re-badge certain Lynk & Co models as Zeekrs for markets like Australia has been reportedly cancelled, as each brand establishes its own identity. The pair continue to diverge in their design, with Lynk & Co models continuing ownership of the split-DRL design on the new 08 PHEV mid-sizer and 900 large PHEV SUV. Meanwhile Zeekr will power ahead with its more high-end offerings in Australia into 2027, with the 8X and 9X hybrids due here over the next year, adding to its current range which consists of the X small SUV, 7X mid-sizer, 009 people mover, and incoming 7GT station wagon, all for now as electric cars.

Zeekr has announced monthly sales figures for August, announcing that it has more than doubled its global sales footprint year-on-year. Up a massive 100.4 per cent year-on-year, Zeekr reports it has delivered 251,000 vehicles, with monthly sales volume for August coming to 36,981 units. The growing luxury arm of Geely, Zeekr says it has now cumulatively sold nearly 900,000 units worldwide since its inception in 2021. This is an important milestone for Geely, as the higher pricing and margin of Zeekr vehicles is dragging up the brand’s average sale price in an environment where China’s automakers are seeking better profits after a bruising price war in the domestic market. The average sale price for a Zeekr vehicle is reportedly 370,000 RMB (A$77,090) and is an important factor in dragging the average sale price up for the entire Geely Group. Highlights for the year so far shared by Zeekr include over 200,000 global orders for the 7X mid-size SUV, and the Zeekr 9X large SUV becoming the best-selling SUV above the A$100,000 mark in China. In addition, the 009 people mover is now the best-selling luxury electric people mover in several markets, while the 7GT, soon to go on sale in Australia, is moving over 10,000 units a month globally. Zeekr has experienced explosive growth in Australia over the course of 2026, led primarily by its 7X, which until the end of July has clocked 7424 registrations. This has made it one of the best-selling electric cars in the country, ranking only behind more mainstream offerings like the BYD Sealion 7, Geely EX5 and Tesla Model Y. Zeekr will no doubt be expecting a bumper year in 2027, as well, as it adds the 7GT electric station wagon to the range as a new rival to the BYD Seal and Tesla Model 3 before the end of the year, with the 8X large SUV and 9X flagship, both as plug-in hybrids, also set to join the line-up in 2027. For Geely’s part, it has also experienced massive growth in Australia, moving over 14,000 units so far in 2026, despite only having a two-model range. The keenly-priced EX2 hatchback has just joined its range, with the Emgrand sedan and possibly the Monjaro upper mid-sizer set to join the range next year as hybrid options. The company has big global aspirations to double its export sales in 2027. Doing so in Australia would put the brand in the same stead as other Chinese success stories like BYD, Chery and GWM. But Geely’s Australian CEO Alex Gu told CarsGuide earlier this year that the company would continue its measured approach in Australia, despite its early success. “Success isn’t just the volume booming,” he said, “success is also customer satisfaction and dealer satisfaction.” “We’ve only launched two models and for example other brands have launched 10 models. “Of course, they have been in the marke longer, but even with two models you can see we only try to bring ‘star’ models into each segment. “From my perspective, 1000 a month is a milestone for a new model, especially in mainstream segments.” He said the company’s ultimate target was to be a global top-five player, and that in export markets like Australia the goal was to be “the number one Chinese brand.” From there it was a matter of challenging “the global top three.” Stay tuned for more on Zeekr’s new model roll out, as well as more on Geely’s plans for 2027.

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 market Li 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.

Zeekr has announced European details on the 9X flagship SUV ahead of its Australian launch later in 2026. This European-specification version of the Zeekr 9X is slightly different from the Chinese-specification version and it potentially gives a clearer indication of what to expect when it comes Down Under. In Europe the only powertrain available is a range-extender (REEV) hybrid that pairs a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and dual electric motors. It has a total system output of 660kW. The electric motors are fed by a 55kWh battery pack which allows for up to 179km of electric range, or up to 737km of overall combined range, according to WLTP testing. This aforementioned REEV powertrain is offered in China but there’s also a version with the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, and three electric motors. It has a heftier total system output of 1030kW. It has a larger 70kWh battery which offers more than 300km of electric range, or up to 1250km of overall range, according to more lenient CLTC testing. Both European- and Chinese-specification versions of the 9X have a 900V electrical architecture and offer rapid DC fast-charging capabilities. The European version has a peak DC fast-charging rate of 330kW. This allows for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in a claimed 9.5 minutes. In China the Zeekr 9X is offered in a total of five interior colour schemes. For contrast, the European version only comes with two – Charcoal Black or Caramel Brown and Moonglade Blue. Both have Nappa leather upholstery. Like the Chinese-specification version, the European-specification 9X has a six-seat configuration with second-row captain’s chairs. There are two 16-inch displays, a 47-inch augmented reality head-up display, a sliding and foldable 17-inch OLED display, as well as a 32-speaker Naim sound system. Zeekr has confirmed the 9X is launching locally before the end of 2026. It will sit at the top of the Chinese carmaker’s line-up in Australia and be a rival to German players like the Audi Q9, BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS. The 9X is expected to carry a price tag over $100,000, although it is expected to be considerably less than the aforementioned German rivals. It will likely be the most expensive Zeekr offered in Australia though. This title currently goes to the 009 AWD electric people mover which starts at $139,900 before on-road costs.

Zeekr has given a glimpse inside one of the most anticipated new SUVs coming to Australia.  Zeekr will introduce its flagship 9X large SUV to the Australian market this year, and will offer a seriously high-end experience for rear-seat passengers.  The 9X is expected to carry a $100,000-plus price tag when it lands in Australia, giving the BMW X7 and top-spec Range Rover models a run for their money.  It has been shown off in a plush five-seater configuration, with the seats covered in a supple maroon leather.  It boasts up to 1.4m of legroom for rear-seat passengers, with seats also featuring reclining and zero-gravity. Physical control panels in the rear doors control functionality. The middle seat back folds down to provide a comfy armrest and reveal more rear cabin controls. There is a central tablet control panel to set the temperature and monitor other car features from the back.   The car has already launched in China, where it is also offered in a six-seater configuration.  It is available with two powerful plug-in hybrid set-up choices. Both have a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, paired with either two or three electric motors, offering 660kW/935Nm or 1030kW/1410Nm. It can shift from 0-100km/h in roughly three seconds.  The car has a fittingly huge battery of up to 70kWh, expected to offer an all-electric driving range of more than 300km.  Zeekr will hope the 9X can build on the momentum of its cars already making waves in Australia.  The 7X mid-size electric SUV has been a revelation for the brand.   It has quickly garnered significant attention from buyers as it looks to hunt down the record-breaking Tesla Model Y. Its smaller X sibling has also started to gain some traction Down Under, with a mass of new orders for its recently-updated model. 

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.

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.