Chinese brand Zeekr eyes hybrids in Australian expansion
Just two models are currently offered Down Under – the 009 people mover and X compact SUV, both of which are EVs. The larger 7X electric SUV is due to arrive later this year, while a third SUV has been confirmed for 2026.
The global lineup is also EV-heavy, although the Geely-owned Chinese carmaker is now venturing into the plug-in hybrid market with its new 9X large SUV.
The Zeekr 9X features a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 205kW of power, mated with a 290kW front electric motor and a 370kW rear electric motor.
Zeekr is also set to merge with fellow carmaker Lynk & Co, which specialises in hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Vehicles from the latter could come to Australia as soon as 2026, possibly wearing Zeekr badging as a means of expanding the reach of the challenger brand.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
'Under the new NVES we need to look at whether we'll be two entities or a single entity, what's better for us,' said Zeekr Australia head of product Melvyn Low.
'That's yet to be determined, whether it's another brand or a rebrand. It'll probably be a rebrand.'
Cooling EV growth is one of the key drivers behind Zeekr's powertrain expansion, with the majority of Australian new car buyers still opting for internal combustion engine (ICE) or hybrid models.
Zeekr's mid- to long-term strategy will also be informed by the impacts of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) – legislation designed to reduce the carbon footprint of the Australian car market.
'At the moment we have all BEVs. We know there may be customers that need a middle ground to transition (from ICE to EV) and our global brand offers a lot of powertrains, so I'm interested to see what other products we can bring with other powertrains in the future, ' said Mr Low. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
'At the moment, we're understanding the market and where it's heading. Government incentives and what will happen in the future will influence our decisions as well.'
While Zeekr has only just started to diversify its powertrain portfolio, the Australian arm will soon have more models to choose from.
A second plug-in hybrid SUV is expected to launch alongside the 9X, with a global reveal set for late 2025.
'When introducing a new model to Australia in 2026, we need to look at the powertrain and segment,' Zeekr global product marketing director Tony Zhou told CarExpert.
'We have a compact SUV, C/D segment SUV, and MPV, what will be next… is under discussion. We have BEV, big SUV, small SUV, hatchbacks, hybrids and PHEVs in our pocket.'
MORE: Explore the Zeekr showroom
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