Zeekr, an Australian-bound premium EV brand that has released pricing for its first model, the Zeekr X, in recent weeks, appears to have its second model already in the country.
A picture of a green people mover was spotted and shared by Bischoff, a reader of The Driven, which appears to look a lot like the Zeekr 009.
In the photo, the front grille can be partially seen under the white cover along with the front doors. Looking closer at the wheels, they appear to be the signature wheels of the luxury people mover.
The Zeekr 009 is a large people mover based on sustainable experience architecture (SEA), which was developed by the company’s parent, Geely Group.
It is currently in its third generation and can incorporate advanced handling technologies like a dual-chamber air suspension system. Dynamically, this suspension system makes the 5,209 mm long vehicle feel smaller than how spacious it really is.
Back in late 2022, we first reported on the Zeekr 009 being the first EV with over 800km on the CLTC cycle.
At that time, the 009 range was launched in China with the new Qilin battery from CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer.
This battery had a capacity of 140 kWh, had high energy density, and could reach 255 Wh/kg. This allowed the 009 people mover to deliver a whopping 822 km in range.
In its top-spec variant, the 009’s dual-motor powertrain offered 400 kW of power and could propel the car from 0-100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds.
Then, in January 2023, the first production units of the model rolled off the production line and a second configuration was also showcased, which delivered a slightly smaller 116 kWh battery pack.
At that time, pricing in China started at $A106,700 and went up to $A127,700. In Australia, the starting price is likely to be closer to $130,000 before on-roads.
This variant could provide up to 702 km of CLTC range. On the WLTP test cycle, that will be lower but can be expected to deliver over 600 km of real-world range.
On the technology front, the Zeekr 009 has an entire suite of cameras that can be used for the ADAS system and autonomous driving capability.
The suite includes multiple HD and surround-view cameras that help the car see the road a lot better, regardless of the road condition. There are multiple other sensors in the safety suite, including ultra-long-range and short-range ultrasonic radars.
Locally available variants, pricing and specifications are yet to be revealed, but with the first sighting already underway, it’s likely that we will know more in the coming months.
Having been driven around across parts of Shanghai and Ningbo in the Zeekr 009 earlier this year when I was on a trip to China, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever been in.
This car will likely open multiple luxury markets currently dominated by ICE vehicles, so having an EV option will further accelerate adoption in that segment.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.