Geely counts on the Zeekr 7X midsize SUV to compete with Tesla’s bestselling Model Y

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Zeekr’s 7X will come in two battery options that can run up to 605km or 780km on a single charge, the carmaker said

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A Zeekr 7X midsize SUV. Photo: Zeekr Intelligent Technology

Daniel Renin Shanghai

Published: 1:45pm, 30 Aug 2024

Zeekr Intelligent Technology, the premium electric vehicle (EV) maker controlled by Geely Auto, has unveiled a new sport-utility vehicle (SUV) to take on Tesla’s bestselling Model Y, as competition intensifies in China’s fast-growing but crowded market.

The midsize fully electric SUV, known as Zeekr 7X, will be the fifth production model for a company that posted a 66-per cent jump in second-quarter deliveries.

The vehicle, which debuted at the Chengdu Auto Show on Friday, will come in a right-hand drive variant for export markets in future, Zeekr said. The 7X will be offered with two battery options that can travel up to 605km or 780km on a single charge, Zeekr said, without disclosing the catalogue prices.

The batteries boast the world’s fastest charging capability, Zeekr said. The short-range edition, powered by the company’s own lithium-ion-phosphate (LFP) battery, features 800-volt ultra-fast charging technology, which can offer nearly 400km of driving range after just 10.5 minutes of charging.

A Model Y on display at the Tesla booth during the World Internet of Things Exposition in Wuxi on October 21, 2023. Photo: Bloomberg.

The 7X will be built on the open-source Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform launched by Geely in late 2020. The platform supports a wide range of battery-powered vehicles, from passenger cars and SUVs to commercial vans and trucks.