As the automotive market continues to evolve, the spotlight is once again on Zeekr, an emerging player in the electric vehicle sector in ChinaWith a flurry of activity throughout the year, Zeekr has recently unveiled its latest model, the Zeekr 7X.

On September 20th, Zeekr officially launched its new SUV, the Zeekr 7X, with CEO An Conghui expressing aspirations for it to emerge as a blockbuster in the SUV sector.

During the launch event, three versions of the Zeekr 7X were introduced, with prices ranging from 229,900 to 269,900 yuan

Advertisements

An, who has been part of Geely for 28 years and has a wealth of experience in pricing new models, remarked that determining the price for the Zeekr 7X was particularly challenging due to the highly competitive market landscape.

In the 20 days following its presentation at the Chengdu Auto Show, pre-sale orders for the Zeekr 7X exceeded 58,000 units, averaging about 2,921 new orders per dayRecently, the starting price of the vehicle was further reduced by 10,000 yuan compared to its pre-sale priceAn noted, “Considering user expectations and the competitive environment, we believe the final pricing is reasonable and competitive, and it has garnered recognition from a wide array of consumers.”

In an interview after the event, An shared his ambition that the Zeekr 7X should set the standard in the pure electric SUV niche market.

For Zeekr, becoming a significant contender in the niche market is pivotal for the vehicle's success; the ambition to create a 'blockbuster' has become ingrained in Zeekr's ethos.

Since its inception, Zeekr has been consistently pursuing blockbusters across various segments, showcasing models like the Zeekr 001 in the shooting brake market, the luxurious Zeekr 009 in the MPV market, and the Zeekr 007 in the mid-to-large sedan segment, each demonstrating strong competitiveness.

However, the SUV market has proven to be challenging, as evidenced by the performance of the Zeekr X, launched last April, which failed to capture significant market interest

Advertisements

Priced at 180,000 yuan, its compact design did not resonate with consumers, leading to dismal sales figures averaging less than 700 units per month.

In light of this, the Zeekr 7X has now become the key to the company's aspirations for a successful SUV, and initial metrics suggest it could achieve that status.

The dimensions of the Zeekr 7X are 4825mm in length, 1930mm in width, and 1656mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2925mm, surpassing many rivals in its class, including Tesla's Model Y and Xpeng's G6. The design eschews a sloping roofline, leading to an impressive 83.34% utilization rate of the interior spaceIn terms of safety, An described the Zeekr 7X as a "highway tank," featuring a robust "Dome Armor" vehicle structure that comes standard with seven airbags.

On the technological front, the Zeekr 7X utilizes the latest ZEEKR AI OS smart cockpit and Haohan Intelligent Driving 2.0, showcasing the company's advancements in smart technology

Advertisements

The vehicle employs an 800V high-voltage platform and a high-performance silicon carbide electric drive system, offering both single and dual-motor configurations, with the dual-motor variant achieving a peak power of 475kW and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds.

Should the Zeekr 7X perform well in the market, it could significantly boost overall delivery rates for Zeekr.

In the first eight months of this year, Zeekr delivered a total of 121,500 vehicles, marking an 81% increase year-on-yearNevertheless, the company set an ambitious annual delivery target of 230,000 vehicles, with current completion at just 52.8%.

Responding to this, An acknowledged that while the target presents challenges, Zeekr remains confident

• Bank-Resold Funds Ignite New Price War
• Record Online Sales During Holiday Shopping Season
• Rising Bankruptcy Rates in the U.S.
• BMW Reenters the Price War
• Acceleration of Machine Tool Industry Chain Evolution

He proclaimed that Zeekr aims to be one of the earliest profitable electric brands following Tesla and expressed optimism about achieving a full-year gross profit margin target of 15%.

While order numbers hold significance, the success of a new product is equally dependent on effective delivery performanceMany new vehicles have previously fallen out of favor due to delivery challenges, leading to missed market opportunities.

Zeekr's Vice President Lin Jinwen stated that the company possesses a robust supply chain and a systematic production and delivery capability, differentiating itself with early production of 'premium' modelsHe estimated that, despite only 10 days left in September, about 3,000 deliveries are still anticipated.

He added that from October onwards, production ramp-up for the Zeekr 7X would accelerate, aiming for a year-end delivery figure that exceeds ten thousand units.

By this calculation, maintaining the current delivery rates alongside the rising production of the Zeekr 7X could potentially see monthly deliveries surpass 20,000 units as September concludes, bolstered by the upcoming launch of the Zeekr MIX in the fourth quarter.

Following the setbacks of its first SUV, the stakes are high for the Zeekr 7X