Spy photos exposed Geely's upcoming ZEEKR 7X, a new mid-size SUV that will likely be positioned in the CNY 240,000 - 350,000 price range and compete directly with the Tesla Model Y priced between CNY 249,900 - 354,900.
The ZEEKR 7X will possibly be Tesla Model Y's toughest competition yet in the pure electric SUV segment in China, at least until the arrival of Huawei-Chery's Luxeed R7 and NIO's Onvo L60.
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Currently, the ZEEKR 007 competes directly with the Tesla Model 3, while the ZEEKR 001 station wagon is positioned between the 3 and the Y (attracting prospective buyers of both models). This new ZEEKR 7X will join the mix as a direct competing product to the Tesla Model Y.
In the sales chart above, both the 001 and 007 combined have fully matched the Model 3 in sales since the beginning of 2024, but the Tesla Model Y sales remain very strong in China, creating a significant gap between the two brands. ZEEKR hopes to capture some of that market with this new mid-size SUV.
Nonetheless, we certainly expect some level of sales cannibalization between the 7X and the 001, due to their pricing and positioning overlap. The 001 is still expected to command a slight premium over the SUV, priced between CNY 269,000 - 329,000.
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ZEEKR has four vehicles on the market, ZEEKR 001, ZEEKR 007, ZEEKR 009, and ZEEKR X, and is expected to also launch a compact MPV called the ZEEKR Mix later this year. The brand's first vehicle model is the ZEEKR 001, which has also consistently been their best-selling vehicle.
As of June 2024, the ZEEKR 001 sold 54,568 units, which ranks 3rd among all pure electric vehicles priced above the CNY 200,000 mark. Tesla Model 3 and Y sold 70,500 and 207,817 cars, respectively through that same period.
The ZEEKR 7X will reportedly adopt Geely's SEA architecture and be equipped with an 800V high-voltage platform as standard.
SEA stands for Sustainable Experience Architecture and is an electric vehicle platform and is used across Geely Holding portfolio brands.
The "NZP" driving assistance system is expected to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip, dual Orin-X chip, and a LiDAR sensor.
The front design shares ZEEKR 007's styling with a clamshell front hood design that creates a seamless transition with the fender.
The 7X also uses the same STARGATE integrated smart light curtain as the ZEEKR 007, a 90-inch light strip with 1,711 LED beads and an industry leading 30 frames per second refresh rate with maximum peak brightness of up to 10,000 nits. For reference, the latest iPhone 15 Pro display can reach up to 2,500 nits.
The rear design offers the same distinctive and elegant taillight that adopts ZEEKR's new Super Red LED technology
The vehicle measures 4,825 mm in length, 1,930 mm in width, and 1,666 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,925 mm. In comparison, the Tesla Model Y measures 4,751/1,921/1,624 mm (L/W/H) and 2,890 mm in wheelbase.
The ZEEKR 7X single-motor RWD version will come with a maximum rear motor power of 310 kW. Meanwhile, the dual-motor AWD drive version will feature an additional 165 kW front motor, totaling 475 kW in motor power. These configurations match the motor power of its sedan sibling with a maximum driving speed of 210 km/h.
If the ZEEKR 007 is any indication, the 7X performance version's 0-100 km/h acceleration time should not be far off from the sedan's absurd 2.84 seconds.
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In comparison, the Tesla Model Y rear-wheel drive version priced at CNY 249,900 offers 220 kW of rear motor power, while the performance dual-motor AWD version offers a combined 357 kW motor power (137 kW front motor).
The single-motor version will be equipped with either an LFP battery or a ternary lithium battery, while the dual motor will exclusively use a ternary lithium battery.
Spy photos of the interior also revealed a gear selector and five physical buttons under the horizontal infotainment screen. These buttons will likely offer similar utility as the ones in the Xiaomi SU7, such as quick access to temperature controls, stereo, and more.
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ZEEKR currently sells four vehicles, ZEEKR 001, ZEEKR 007, ZEEKR 009, and ZEEKR X. The brand's first vehicle model is the ZEEKR 001, which has also consistently been their best-selling vehicle that closely rivals the sales volume of the Tesla Model 3.
As of June 2024, the ZEEKR 001 sold 54,568 units, which ranks 3rd among all pure electric vehicles priced above the CNY 200,000 mark. Tesla Model 3 and Y sold 70,500 and 207,817 cars, respectively through that same period.