- tech360.tv
China's Zeekr Accelerates Growth with New Luxury Electric Van
Zeekr introduces the Zeekr 009 Grand, a luxury electric van aimed at challenging multinational automakers in China. The van offers best-in-class luxury and safety at an affordable price compared to competitors. Zeekr's EV unit is experiencing strong demand, with the Zeekr 001 surpassing Tesla's Model 3 as the best-selling battery-powered sedan.
Chinese electric vehicle brand Zeekr is making waves in the market once again with the introduction of its latest luxury van. The company aims to challenge the dominance of multinational automakers in China, where exorbitant markups are common. Zeekr's chairman, Andy An, emphasised the brand's mission to offer best-in-class luxury and safety, positioning Chinese car brands as formidable competitors in the transition to smart electric vehicles.
Dubbed the Zeekr 009 Grand, this fully-electric van is being hailed as a "royal suite" on wheels and a direct rival to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. What sets it apart is its affordability, with a price tag of only RMB 789,000 ($108,961), significantly lower than BMW's luxury lineup and even the Toyota Alphard, one of its key competitors.
Geely's EV unit, which includes Zeekr, is experiencing strong demand for its products in the Chinese market. In fact, the Zeekr 001 has surpassed Tesla's Model 3 as the best-selling battery-powered sedan in the premium car segment. With an annual delivery target of 230,000 units for this year, Geely is poised for further growth.
The Zeekr 009 Grand boasts a combination of sophisticated craftsmanship and cutting-edge technologies. It caters to the needs of Chinese celebrities and business leaders, offering features such as "curtain" glass that provides privacy in seconds and a single-click mode that erases travel history and contact data for enhanced security.
Zeekr is also enhancing its "giga-casting" technology, a process inspired by Tesla, to improve car body stiffness. Safety tests have shown that the van's interior remains intact even after a rear-end collision with a 2.3-ton trailer at 50 kilometres per hour (31 mph).
With a driving range of 702 kilometres (436 miles) based on City Light Test Cycle (CLTC) standards, the Zeekr 009 Grand outperforms the Rolls-Royce Cullinan in on-road performance. This is achieved through the integration of artificial intelligence algorithms, adaptive dampers, and air springs, technologies also embraced by other Chinese automakers like BYD and Huawei.
Zeekr's success comes at a time when the overall demand for electric vehicles in China is experiencing a slowdown. While many automakers are turning to plug-in hybrids, Zeekr remains committed to strong growth in the new energy vehicle (NEV) market. The brand's special-edition 009 is winning customers over with its craftsmanship and quality materials, rather than relying solely on superficial luxury design.
Looking ahead, Zeekr has ambitious plans for expansion. The company aims to deliver 230,000 vehicles by 2024, nearly double the number achieved last year. It also plans to enter multiple countries in the Middle East, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, building on its successful exports to Europe, the Gulf Bay area, and parts of Asia.
With its competitive NEV offerings and a global footprint, Zeekr, under the Geely umbrella, is poised to make a significant impact in the EV race and overseas markets.
Zeekr introduces the Zeekr 009 Grand, a luxury electric van aimed at challenging multinational automakers in China.
The van offers best-in-class luxury and safety at an affordable price compared to competitors.
Zeekr's EV unit is experiencing strong demand, with the Zeekr 001 surpassing Tesla's Model 3 as the best-selling battery-powered sedan.
Source: TECHNODE