Geely-owned Chinese language electrical automobile (EV) model Zeekr is getting nearer to an Australian launch, as pre-orders open for right-hand drive fashions in different markets and the model fills key roles regionally.
The corporate has confirmed right-hand drive variations of the Zeekr X crossover and 009 folks mover at the moment are out there for pre-order in Thailand, the place they’ll go on sale later this yr.
Zeekr, which is positioning itself as a premium electrical automobile model, will launch right here within the second half of 2024.
The corporate has appointed a head of selling in Australia, Andrew Haurissa, who served as Chery Australia’s advertising director from February 2023 to 2024 and performed a key position in that model re-establishing itself in our market.
It has additionally appointed a head of after-sales, Matt McCroarey, who has beforehand served in customer support and technical supervisor roles at Polestar and Jaguar Land Rover.
At this stage it’s unclear how the model plans to distribute its autos in Australia. It’s not the one model underneath the Geely umbrella in Australia, with Lotus, Polestar and Volvo additionally promoting autos right here.
Zeekr has beforehand confirmed to CarExpert the 009 folks mover might be supplied right here, although the X crossover shapes as a powerful risk significantly after the model posted about it on its Australian LinkedIn account.
It’s unclear if Zeekr’s different autos – the Combine folks mover, 001 fastback and 007 sedan – might be produced in right-hand drive.
The Zeekr 009 was first revealed in late 2022, billed because the world’s first pure luxurious electrical MPV. Volvo has since revealed its personal model primarily based on the identical Sustainable Expertise Structure (SEA) platform known as the EM90.
In China the 009 is obtainable with both 116kWh or 140kWh batteries equipped by CATL, with claimed vary figures of 702km and 822km – albeit each on the beneficiant CLTC take a look at cycle.
Energy comes from a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup producing 400kW of energy and 686Nm of torque.
![Chinese premium electric car brand nearing Australian launch](https://images.carexpert.com.au/crop/800/533/app/uploads/2022/11/2023-zeekr-009-11.jpeg)
That offers it a claimed 0-100km/h dash time of simply 4.5 seconds – heady efficiency for a boxy folks mover. It additionally has a comparatively slippery drag coefficient of 0.27.
The 009 measures in at 5209mm lengthy, 2024mm vast, and 1848-1856mm tall with a 3205mm wheelbase. This makes it nearly the identical dimension because the LDV MIFA 9.
All Chinese language-specification fashions experience on a “high-performance” air suspension set-up, with double wishbone entrance and multi-link rear suspension. Inside there are six seats in a 2+2+2 configuration.
![Chinese premium electric car brand nearing Australian launch](https://images.carexpert.com.au/crop/372/248/app/uploads/2022/11/2023-zeekr-009-6.jpeg)
![Chinese premium electric car brand nearing Australian launch](https://images.carexpert.com.au/crop/372/248/app/uploads/2022/11/2023-zeekr-009-4.jpeg)
Customary gear on Chinese language 009s contains matrix LED headlights, energy sliding doorways, twin sunroofs, a 20-speaker Yamaha sound system, in addition to Nappa leather-based and Ultrasuede upholstery.
Screens embody a ten.25-inch unit forward of the motive force, a 15.4-inch contact show, and a 15.6-inch adjustable central ceiling display screen. There are additionally 3.4-inch touchscreens on the sliding doorways.
The Zeekr X is significantly smaller, although it’s underpinned by the identical structure, which can be utilized by the Volvo EX30.
![Chinese premium electric car brand nearing Australian launch](https://images.carexpert.com.au/crop/800/533/app/uploads/2024/03/zeekr_x_5.jpeg)
At 4432mm lengthy and 2025mm vast (together with the mirrors) on a 2750mm wheelbase, it’s nearly an identical in dimension to the BYD Atto 3.
In Europe, it’s supplied with a selection of 200kW/343Nm single-motor rear-wheel drive or 315kW/543Nm dual-motor all-wheel drive configurations, with claimed WLTP vary figures of 446km and 425km, respectively.
In dual-motor guise, it could do the 0-100km/h dash in a claimed 3.8 seconds.
It makes use of a 69kWh lithium-ion battery, with 150kW DC charging functionality.
![Chinese premium electric car brand nearing Australian launch](https://images.carexpert.com.au/crop/800/533/app/uploads/2024/03/zeekr_x_58.jpeg)
Inside, it options an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a 24.3-inch augmented actuality head-up show.
Obtainable gear contains ventilated entrance seats and a 13-speaker Yamaha sound system.
Zeekr solely began delivering autos in China in 2021, however is already increasing quickly all over the world.
It plans to be promoting vehicles throughout a number of European, Center Jap and Asian markets over the subsequent 5 years.
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