New Chinese automaker Zeekr – which is part of the giant Geely automotive group – will launch its first car in Australia next month, adding to the current wave of electric vehicles from emerging brands.
The Zeekr X – a small SUV similar in size to a Toyota Corolla Cross, though said to be taking aim at the top-selling Tesla Model Y – will launch in Australia ahead of an electric people mover due later this year or early next year.
While the Zeekr X was unveiled in China earlier this year, the company is starting to showcase the model in Australia in special previews and has now given an indication on price.
Executives for Zeekr in Australia told a media briefing in Sydney last week the Zeekr X will undercut the price of the Volvo EX30 on which it is based.
While exact pricing is yet to be confirmed, executives for Zeekr Australia said the base model will be priced below $60,000 before on-road costs, and the luxury all-wheel-drive model will be priced below $70,000 before on-road costs.
First Australian test drives of the Zeekr X are due to start next month ahead of showroom deliveries by the end of the year.
Zeekr is a relatively new brand created as a Chinese offshoot of Volvo.
Volvo was acquired by Geely in 2010 after Ford sold the Swedish brand to the Chinese auto giant. (Ford owned Volvo from 1999 to 2010 but was not able to make it profitable).
The acquisition of Volvo fast-tracked Geely’s vehicle development and design to global standards, with styling and engineering facilities in Sweden as well as China.
The Zeekr X is the first co-developed ‘twin’ to a Volvo vehicle, in this case, the Volvo EX30.
Following the struggle of some rival car brands in Australia who have tried to sell electric cars at non-negotiable prices (and paying dealers a flat fee to handle the vehicle handover to the customer), Zeekr says it will establish a traditional dealer network here.
This means customers will be able to negotiate on price, and it could pay to shop around. However, Zeekr Australia is yet to announce its dealer network.
Here is what we know so far about the upcoming Zeekr X.
Joshua Dowling has been a motoring journalist for more than 20 years, most of that time with Fairfax (The Sydney Morning Herald), News Corp Australia (Herald Sun and News.com.au), and most recently Drive.com.au (owned by Nine Media). He is also a World Car of the Year judge, has won numerous journalism awards, and test drives up to 200 cars per year.
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