Is this China's answer to Audi? Geely-backed luxury car brand coming for Tesla, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and even Porsche with electric - and possibly hybrid - sedans and SUVs

Zeekr is on the cusp of launching its first model in Australia, the X, priced from $56,900 before on-road costs.

Following the X small SUV's appearance at SXSW 2024, Zeekr will launch a Lexus LM-rivalling 009 people mover followed by the Tesla Model Y-battling 7X electric family SUV. But that won’t be the end of it. 

Speaking to CarsGuide, Vice President Mars Chen revealed some important details about Zeekr’s future models and how it will be positioned, both in the market — as a rival to the likes of BMW, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Tesla — and in the Geely Group hierarchy.  

“If you think of Geely as the VW Group then Zeekr plays the role of Audi,” explained Chen. Geely sells cars under the eponymous badge but also owns off-shoot brands such as Zeekr and Lynk & Co, with controlling stakes in Volvo, Polestar and Smart.

Chen’s remit is looking after Zeekr's rapid expansion into markets outside China and Europe, with his time split across the ASEAN region, South America, the Middle East and Australia as the brand. He previously worked at tech company Huawei.

“After the three cars, for those new options we need to listen to the market — we need to listen to our customer. We have 001 which is the iconic halo model in Zeekr and the 007 is the new sedan,” said Chen. 

2025 Zeekr 7X

The Zeekr 001 is close in ethos to a Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo with a sleek fastback body style that acts as the brand’s flagship with up to 580kW, 700km driving range, 28 speakers, a 15.6-inch touchscreen and 800-volt electrical architecture. 

Meanwhile, the newer 007 — which will surely need a name clarification in English-speaking markets as the Peugeot 1007 did — has all of Zeekr’s latest technology in a liftback package, though a wagon is expected next year. 

The stats are stunning, with Geely’s 75kWh ‘Golden Brick’ battery using an advanced lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry and 800V architecture allowing ‘5.5C’ level fast-charging, able to replenish from 10-80 per cent in 10 minutes on a fast enough pylon. 

2025 Zeekr X at SXSW Sydney

At the top end, it’s plenty fast hitting 100km/h in a claimed 2.84 seconds with an optional 100kWh CATL battery giving up to 870km driving range. 

“We have another two big SUVs coming,” admitted Chen, “which would be a little bit different with a ‘super hybrid’ powertrain system.” 

Zeekr hasn’t announced any details of its new hybrid system, whether it’s plug-in, range-extender or otherwise, but Chen promised the combined range of the three-tonne Range Rover sized vehicle (potentially known as the ‘EX1E’) will have “at least more than 1000km.”

2025 Zeekr X at SXSW Sydney
Although Chen maintained the brand will remain EV-only for now, hybrid tech is very much on the way. 

“Eventually I believe that every country will accept a certain percentage [of EVs]. For sure it won’t be 100 per cent or 90 per cent, eventually between ICE and EV we will reach a very good balance,” he said when asked if Zeekr was worried about slowing EV demand.

“It’s like what happened in the IT era, when we just wanted to sell cloud to the market, people were very conservative: ‘why should I move my facility, my infrastructure, to your data centre and put my information data in your infrastructure’.” 

2025 Zeekr 001

As for volume aspirations, they’re pretty lofty. “We are not Tesla,” said Chen, yet he still wants to sell high volumes for a premium maker. When asked if 3000-4000 cars per month is possible he said: “Definitely, that’s part of our ambition.” 

Helping set Zeekr’s first product, the X, apart will be onboard technology including light shows and external meows, along with design led by Stefan Sielaff formerly of Audi and Bentley. 

Underneath it sits on Geely’s SEA architecture shared with the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1, while both launch models feature a 64kWh (usable) battery paired with either a 200kW rear motor (440km WLTP) or twin motors for 315kW543Nm and 400km WLTP driving range. All models have 150kW DC fast-charging capability.

2025 Zeekr 009

In Australia, Zeekr will be sold at traditional franchise dealers, differentiating it from Polestar and Tesla which operate in small experience centres and online. “From now until the end of the year we’re launching nine dealerships…covering all the major and mero cities,” said Zeekr Australia MD Connel Yan. 

The proof will come when CarsGuide gets to experience the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1-related Zeekr X next week.