Zeekr News

The European Union is proposing an alternative to its tariffs targeting Chinese-made electric-powered vehicles, in the form of a minimum price model, according to Bloomberg.Under the model, Chinese exporters can submit price offers, which must be “adequate to eliminate the injurious effects of the subsidies and provide equivalent effect to duties”.Details such as the minimum import price, sales channels, cross compensation and future investments in the EU must be included.Alternatively, brands who do not use this new model will continue to be subject to the tariffs.A 2024 investigation found China’s car exporters gained unfair advantage from Chinese government subsidies, which found they were able to sell cars significantly under the price of Europe-built alternatives.To combat this, Chinese brands were hit with tariffs of up to 35 per cent on imports in addition to a 10 per cent foreign cars tariff.These tariffs are designed to counteract the impact of these subsidies to protect jobs and entice buyers toward European cars.They also are intended to encourage Chinese brands to build cars in Europe.Chinese auto makers have already begun building cars in Europe.For example, Xpeng is using local assembly in Austria, while Leapmotor manufactures cars in Poland.This latest change demonstrates a cooperative approach between the EU and Chinese car makers, described as a “soft landing” in China.Despite tough economic conditions for Chinese car makers in Europe, brands are gaining an increasingly strong hold.Chinese car brands outsold Renault and Audi in Europe during August in 2025. The following month they sold more vehicles than South Korean brands in Western Europe for the first time ever.These defiant sales figures are largely due to Chinese brands shifting focus from EVs to the import of hybrid and internal combustion vehicles.The news comes after reports that the EU is planning to remove its total ban on petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035.

You can't fit 10kg of dirt into a 5kg bag. That feels like an appropriate metaphor for the Australian car industry, where seemingly every few weeks a new car brand arrives to stake its claim on a piece of the market.

Details on Zeekr’s next model for Australia, dubbed 8X, have come to light thanks to the car’s filing with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.The 8X was recently teased by the brand, but the new filing reveals much deeper details.It revealed a five-or-six seater plug-in hybrid luxury car measuring more than five-meters long.The styling is more in-line with the brand’s flagship 9X and 009 people mover, featuring a slotted chrome grille rather than the more sleek grille-free styling of the 7X mid-sizer, X small SUV and 7GT wagon.It also scores impressive specifications for its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain, as the brand moves further away from its original EV-only mission.Chinese information confirms a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine (205kW) paired to electric motors for an as-yet-to-be-determined total power output. The larger 9X uses a similar set-up with three electric motors and has a combined power output of over 1000kW.It also features enormous battery capacities, ranging from 55.1kWh to 70kWh for pure electric driving ranges of 256km or 328km, according to the more lenient Chinese measuring protocol.Even accounting for the usual differences between this and the more widely-accepted WLTP measurements, it would still make the 8X one of the longest range PHEV on the market.The filling confirms the 8X will be more than five meters long, with a wheelbase of more than three meters, which puts it firmly in the extra large SUV category and even eclipses the Range Rover Sport in terms of footprint.The Zeekr 8X is due to hit the Chinese market in the first half of 2026, so watch this space for full details on the model.Zeekr Australia has confirmed to CarsGuide multiple new models are on its radar for 2026, including the 8X, 9X and the 7GT station wagon it recently showcased at the International EV show in Sydney.The Chinese premium marque, which serves as the premium arm of its Geely parent company and a sister brand to both Polestar and Volvo, had a slow start in Australia last year.Its X small SUV and 009 luxury people mover proved to be niche sellers, but the brand nearly doubled its volume for the year instantly with the arrival of the highly anticipated 7X fully electric mid-size SUV.As the brand builds out its line-up, it could also be bolstered further down the track by the introduction of re-badged models from its Euro-focused Lynk & Co sister brand, which has always specialised in plug-in hybrids.Stay tuned for more on Zeekr’s expansion plans later in 2026.

China’s Zeekr has confirmed it has a new high-performance flagship SUV in the works and it’s reportedly set to launch in its domestic market during the first half of 2026.The Zeekr 8X is set to slot between the 7X electric mid-size SUV and the 9X plug-in hybrid large SUV.The Chinese carmaker has shared a few photos of the 8X with camouflage giving us an indication of what the exterior design looks like.While the 9X is clearly inspired by the Rolls-Royce Cullinan in terms of exterior design, the forthcoming 8X shrinks the form factor and brings a sportier, almost Range Rover Sport-esque look.There are C-shaped daytime running lights with a split-level headlight setup, C-shaped tail-lights with a lightbar connecting them, a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor, plus traditional pull-style door handles.As reported by Car News China, it’s expected the Zeekr 8X will be based on a version of the same SEA-S hybrid platform, which underpins the 9X. It’ll likely only offer five seats, however three-row versions might still be on the cards.Technical details haven’t been revealed yet, though the powertrains are expected to mirror what’s already offered in the 9X.This likely means there will be two or three electric motors, depending on the configuration, with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine acting as a range extender. Total system outputs could go all the way up to 1030kW and 1410Nm.The Zeekr 9X is already claimed to go from 0-100km/h in 3.1 seconds and it’s expected the 8X could be a little faster again given it’s a tad smaller.It’s expected the 9X’s 900V high-voltage battery packs will also carry over to the 8X. There are 55kWh and 70kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion battery packs offered with the latter offering up to 380km of electric range in the 9X, according to the lenient CLTC cycle.If this is the case, expect a little more range for the 8X given it’s smaller than the 9X.It’s claimed you can charge the battery pack from 20 to 80 per cent in as little as nine minutes.At this stage it’s unclear whether the Zeekr 8X will be coming to Australia.Zeekr has been selling vehicles in the Australian market for over 12 months now, launching initially with the X electric small SUV and the 009 electric people mover.The Chinese carmaker recently launched the 7X electric mid-size SUV in Australia, also confirming it won’t receive any updates for the next 12-18 months.

The only constant is change – a smart person once said that.

China is about to ban a popular feature on new cars.Retractable door handles on cars will be banned in China from January 2027, according to a public notice from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).Under the draft rules, cars will be required to have mechanical emergency releases for exterior and interior door handles. Exterior door handles must be positioned within accessible areas on the door or door frame. For interior side doors, they must have at least one mechanical interior handle, and a minimum of one interior handle must be visible to occupants.Many manufacturers had been adopting retractable door handles on their vehicles, with it quickly becoming the latest premium gimmick.There are also some other more practical benefits such as aiding aerodynamics by reducing drag when the car is moving. Despite the points in favour, there have been several safety concerns raised, including a fatal fire-related incident in China recently. In situations where electric vehicles become submerged or catch alight, the electrics can malfunction and halt the operation of any electric door handles, leaving occupants trapped. This latest ban will require manufacturers to rethink their approach to door handle design if they want to continue selling their cars in China.This will likely have knock-on effects for Australia given it's an important export market for many Chinese carmakers.Among the many carmakers utilising electric door handles are Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y, as well as plenty of Chinese competitors. Similar concerns around electric door handle safety have also been raised in Australia.The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has adapted its safety testing protocols from 2026, placing emphasis on electric door handles. “Increasingly popular electrically-operated door handles – which sit flush with bodywork when not in use – should remain operable after any crash,” a press release read. ANCAP’s official 2026 changes brochure expands on this. “We’re asking that cars with electric door handles – those powered by the cars’ 12 volt auxiliary battery – provide the ability for all side door handles to be in the extended/ready-to-open position immediately after a crash,” it reads. “They’ll also need to remain operable from the inside, or provide a manual override, so that occupants can exit, or first-responders can gain access inside the vehicle after a crash.”

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Feel like there’s suddenly a whole lot of new car brands with logos you don’t even recognise.

America wants to see a station wagon comeback, but it won't be as easy as it sounds.

Newcomer Chinese brands are making a real impact on Australia's new-car market, with several household name brands falling behind in November.