Zeekr

Zeekr's third model has been named the Zeekr X, not the Zeekr 003 as previously widely believed. (Image credit: Zeekr) Geely's electric vehicle subsidiary Zeekr today unveiled the final name of its third model, along with official images, after teasing the model earlier this week. Zeekr's third model is named the Zeekr X, not the Zeekr 003 as was previously widely believed. The company's first model was the Zeekr 001 and the second was the Zeekr 009. Many previous classics have been named after the 3, but Zeekr won't follow suit, so its third model is not named Zeekr 003, the company said today. The model transcends the limitations of all previous classic models named after 3, where X stands for infinite exploration, endless imagination and endless transcendence, Zeekr explained. Zeekr said the Zeekr X is an all-around SUV that can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in less than four seconds and will become the ceiling of the performance of an A-class SUV. The Zeekr X is 4,450 mm long, 1,836 mm wide and 1,572 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,750 mm, according to the company's announcement today. For comparison, the Zeekr 001 measures 4,970 mm in length, 1,999 mm in width and 1,560 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,005 mm. The Zeekr X is expected to be built on Geely's SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) architecture. The Smart #1, also based on the SEA architecture, measures 4,270 mm in length, 1,822 mm in width and 1,636 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,750 mm. The official unveiling of the model is expected to take place at the Shanghai auto show in April. At the end of January, CnEVPost obtained several images of the new Zeekr model, which was widely speculated at the time to be named Zeekr 003. However, Geely senior vice president Yang Xueliang said on Weibo on January 30 that the model would not necessarily adopt the name Zeekr 003. On February 1, Zeekr teased the compact SUV in a poster and video posted on Weibo, emphasizing the number "3," suggesting that the goal is to make it a classic similar to the Tesla Model 3. Zeekr was officially launched as an independent company in March 2021 and currently sells the Zeekr 001 hatchback and the Zeekr 009 MPV, both of which are produced at the company's plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang. Zeekr's third model will not be built in Ningbo, but at one of Geely's plants in Chengdu, Sichuan province, a source familiar with the matter previously told CnEVPost. Zeekr deliveries in January were 3,116 units, down 11.73 percent from 3,530 units a year ago and down 72.51 percent from 11,337 units in December, data released earlier this month showed. That sharp drop in deliveries was due to a 21-day shutdown at Zeekr's Ningbo plant to prepare for the production of new models. The plant has officially resumed production on February 1.

The model will be one of two new models Zeekr will launch this year that the company says will be the ceiling for performance in the A-class SUV.

The model, likely to be named Zeekr 003, is expected to target a price range of RMB 150,000 ($22,110) - 200,000 yuan and is expected to help Zeekr reach its goal of doubling annual sales.

The first Zeekr 009 production vehicle rolled off the production line at Zeekr's Ningbo plant on January 8, and its delivery will begin shortly.

Zeekr plans to start selling vehicles in Europe later this year and is not planning to enter the US consumer market.

Zeekr is offering a 140-kWh Qilin Battery option for the single-motor version of the Zeekr 001, but it is limited to just 1,000 units and will cost consumers an additional RMB 103,000.