Luxury vans to shock Australia
A new breed of beast is lurking in the Australian car market, and it's not a typical SUV or sedan.
These machines are all about space, speed and luxury, and they might just be the most opulent people movers to hit Australian roads.
The first is called the Zeekr 009 Grand, and it's a sub-variant of the already luxurious Zeekr 009 currently on the market.
Zeekr, a member of the Geely group alongside Volvo and Polestar, initially unveiled the standard 009 in 2024, offering six or seven-seat variants priced from $135,900 and $139,900 before on-road costs.
Zeekr 009 Grand. Picture: Supplied
MORE: Gorgeous looks for new Italian supercar
Sales have increased since the launch, with 66 vehicles sold through June of this year.
Zeekr is looking to further explore uncharted territories with a proposal to introduce a more luxurious 'Grand' version of the 009.
The Grand doesn't have a confirmed price for Australia; however, the variant has already hit the Chinese market at a price that's roughly double that of the standard 009 variant.
It's by far the most luxurious vehicle I've sat in.
From the inside out, the Grand is packed with features you'd typically expect in a high-end hotel suite.
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Toyota LandCruiser
Ford Mustang
Holden Commodore
VW Golf
Porsche 911
Toyota HiLux
MG3
Tesla Model Y
Toyota RAV4
Bugatti Veyron
Cast your vote
For starters, passengers can enjoy complete privacy thanks to a world-first revolutionary glass technology that offers 10 levels of adjustable window tinting.
There are two reclining airline-style rear seats mounted behind the C-pillar, designed with legroom and passenger comfort in mind.
Each seat is 24-way power adjustable and separated by a raised centre console that houses a touchscreen control pad for the massive 43-inch LED rear entertainment screen as well as a 31-speaker Yamaha surround sound system and an 18-litre refrigerator.
Zeekr 009 Grand. Picture: Supplied
Zeekr 009 Grand. Picture: Supplied
MORE: What is the best car of the 21st century?
The cabin itself is wrapped in hand-polished stainless-steel elements and real Himalayan marble, making it feel more like a private jet than your typical people mover.
Like the base 009, the Grand features a dual-motor electric powertrain that can propel the people mover from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds in this application. For a car that weighs over three tonnes, that's pretty impressive.
According to Zeekr, this variant offers a driving range of up to 702 km on China's optimistic CLTC test cycle.
While the Grand would be welcomed to Australian showrooms, there's no guarantee it will be produced in right-hand drive at this stage.
Zeekr is in the process of investigating the viability of a conversion for the Grand, which will be informed by the sales performance of other 009 variants globally.
If Zeekr decides to make a right-hand variant and bring it to Australia, who would they compete with?
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Learn More
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Well, for starters, there is the Lexus LM500H.
Priced from just over $220,000 (before on-roads), the top-spec Ultra Luxury version is a four-seat private jet on wheels. Power comes from a 2.4-litre turbocharged hybrid set up, delivering a combined 273kW to all four wheels — a far cry from the electric Zeekr, but still potent.
Inside, the LM is kitted out with a 48-inch wide-screen display that can be split between passengers for personalised entertainment. There's also a mini fridge, plush Ottoman seating, and noise-cancelling technology.
2024 Lexus LM luxury people mover.
2024 Lexus LM luxury people mover.
MORE: Huge change coming to Aussie roads
Then there's BYD's luxury sub-brand Denza, which is tipped to arrive in Australia by the end of 2025 with its first model, the Denza D9.
The D9 has been a runaway success in China, selling nearly 118,000 units in 2023. The top-spec versions are expected to cost around AUD $126,000 locally, though pricing hasn't been finalised.
Buyers will be able to choose between three plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants and two full-electric versions, with driving ranges ranging from 600 km to 970 km, depending on the configuration.
Inside, the D9 offers up to four or seven seats, a 15.6-inch floating touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital driver's display, and a head-up display. A 2024 refresh added electric suction doors and more premium touches aimed at family buyers with a taste for tech.
If Denza launches the D9 here, it will add another high-end, hi-tech option to Australia's emerging premium electric people mover segment — one that values sustainability as much as comfort.
It seems clear that several brands believe there's a growing market for luxury people movers. It is a niche that combines high-end comfort with cutting-edge technology and sustainability.
This emerging demand could be the convincing factor that pushes Zeekr to bring their 009 Grand to Australian shores, offering buyers an entirely new level of opulence in the electric vehicle segment.
Originally published as Zeekr 009 Grand: Could this be the most luxurious people mover ever?
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The Advertiser
12 hours ago
- The Advertiser
BMW and Mercedes-Benz get new bosses in Australia as sales race remains tight
Arch-rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have a close competition going on – just six deliveries separate them in this year's sales race – but unusually both brands have simultaneously announced local leadership changes. In press releases both dated July 14, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have confirmed new Australian bosses. Vikram Pawah is returning to the position of CEO of BMW Group Australia from September 1, 2025, having previously held the role between 2018 and 2020 and more recently served as head of BMW Group India – where, BMW notes, he presided over "consistent year-on-year [sales] increases". He takes over from Wolfgang Buechel, who has been promoted to vice president and head of Mini Global Sales, where he'll be responsible for developing and executing Mini's global sales strategy. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Vikram Pawah (left) and Wolfgang Buechel (right) Mr Buechel served as BMW Group Australia CEO for five years, and leaves after leading BMW to reclaim its position, after 11 years, as the leading premium automotive brand in Australia in 2023. It remained ahead of Mercedes-Benz in 2024 – 26,341 versus 24,831 deliveries, the latter including the three-pointed star brand's van division – and sits ahead of it so far this year. It's a tighter race this year, with BMW sitting at 13,712 deliveries against 13,706 for Mercedes-Benz. At the same time, the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific, Jamie Cohen, is stepping down from his role after just over a year. ABOVE: Homero Becerra Gonzalez (left) and Jaime Cohen (right) He's being succeeded by Homero Becerra Gonzalez, who assumes the role on November 1, 2025. Mr Cohen will work closely with Mr Becerra Gonzalez before departing the company on December 31, 2025. Mr Becerra Gonzalez has an extensive background in finance, having headed up Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Iberia since earlier this year, serving in this role while simultaneously being managing director of Mercedes-Benz fleet and mobility subsidiary Athlon Iberia since 2021. He also has previously served as the head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in Italy. He takes over from Mr Cohen, who joined the Australia/Pacific division in April 2024, following a five-year tenure as the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Mexico. The outgoing local boss has more than 35 years of experience within the Mercedes-Benz Group. "Under his leadership, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific achieved sustained sales and market share growth in a challenging and dynamic geopolitical environment, including a steady rise in the share of electric vehicle deliveries," the company said in its release announcing the change. Mr Cohen joined after Mercedes-Benz moved to an agency sales model in Australia for its Cars division, which resulted in a sales downturn. The agency move saw Mercedes-Benz take ownership of dealership stock, and remove the ability for customers and dealership staff to negotiate on prices – a change that saw dealers sue the brand over what it called inadequate compensation. The Federal Court ruled against the dealers, and this month dismissed an appeal made against its ruling. Deliveries of vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Cars fell from 28,348 in 2021 to 26,801 in 2022, before dropping again in 2023 to 24,315, and then 19,989 in 2024. But there's light at the end of the tunnel, it would appear, with deliveries in the first half of 2025 up 15.9 per cent on the same period last year to 11,146 in total – Mercedes-Benz's best first-half of a year since 2023. BMW is well ahead of Mercedes-Benz in terms of electric vehicles (EVs), however. To the end of June, BMW has delivered 3090 EVs so far this year, while Mercedes-Benz has delivered 1581 – a figure that also includes EVs from its Mercedes-Benz Vans division. Content originally sourced from: Arch-rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have a close competition going on – just six deliveries separate them in this year's sales race – but unusually both brands have simultaneously announced local leadership changes. In press releases both dated July 14, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have confirmed new Australian bosses. Vikram Pawah is returning to the position of CEO of BMW Group Australia from September 1, 2025, having previously held the role between 2018 and 2020 and more recently served as head of BMW Group India – where, BMW notes, he presided over "consistent year-on-year [sales] increases". He takes over from Wolfgang Buechel, who has been promoted to vice president and head of Mini Global Sales, where he'll be responsible for developing and executing Mini's global sales strategy. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Vikram Pawah (left) and Wolfgang Buechel (right) Mr Buechel served as BMW Group Australia CEO for five years, and leaves after leading BMW to reclaim its position, after 11 years, as the leading premium automotive brand in Australia in 2023. It remained ahead of Mercedes-Benz in 2024 – 26,341 versus 24,831 deliveries, the latter including the three-pointed star brand's van division – and sits ahead of it so far this year. It's a tighter race this year, with BMW sitting at 13,712 deliveries against 13,706 for Mercedes-Benz. At the same time, the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific, Jamie Cohen, is stepping down from his role after just over a year. ABOVE: Homero Becerra Gonzalez (left) and Jaime Cohen (right) He's being succeeded by Homero Becerra Gonzalez, who assumes the role on November 1, 2025. Mr Cohen will work closely with Mr Becerra Gonzalez before departing the company on December 31, 2025. Mr Becerra Gonzalez has an extensive background in finance, having headed up Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Iberia since earlier this year, serving in this role while simultaneously being managing director of Mercedes-Benz fleet and mobility subsidiary Athlon Iberia since 2021. He also has previously served as the head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in Italy. He takes over from Mr Cohen, who joined the Australia/Pacific division in April 2024, following a five-year tenure as the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Mexico. The outgoing local boss has more than 35 years of experience within the Mercedes-Benz Group. "Under his leadership, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific achieved sustained sales and market share growth in a challenging and dynamic geopolitical environment, including a steady rise in the share of electric vehicle deliveries," the company said in its release announcing the change. Mr Cohen joined after Mercedes-Benz moved to an agency sales model in Australia for its Cars division, which resulted in a sales downturn. The agency move saw Mercedes-Benz take ownership of dealership stock, and remove the ability for customers and dealership staff to negotiate on prices – a change that saw dealers sue the brand over what it called inadequate compensation. The Federal Court ruled against the dealers, and this month dismissed an appeal made against its ruling. Deliveries of vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Cars fell from 28,348 in 2021 to 26,801 in 2022, before dropping again in 2023 to 24,315, and then 19,989 in 2024. But there's light at the end of the tunnel, it would appear, with deliveries in the first half of 2025 up 15.9 per cent on the same period last year to 11,146 in total – Mercedes-Benz's best first-half of a year since 2023. BMW is well ahead of Mercedes-Benz in terms of electric vehicles (EVs), however. To the end of June, BMW has delivered 3090 EVs so far this year, while Mercedes-Benz has delivered 1581 – a figure that also includes EVs from its Mercedes-Benz Vans division. Content originally sourced from: Arch-rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have a close competition going on – just six deliveries separate them in this year's sales race – but unusually both brands have simultaneously announced local leadership changes. In press releases both dated July 14, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have confirmed new Australian bosses. Vikram Pawah is returning to the position of CEO of BMW Group Australia from September 1, 2025, having previously held the role between 2018 and 2020 and more recently served as head of BMW Group India – where, BMW notes, he presided over "consistent year-on-year [sales] increases". He takes over from Wolfgang Buechel, who has been promoted to vice president and head of Mini Global Sales, where he'll be responsible for developing and executing Mini's global sales strategy. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Vikram Pawah (left) and Wolfgang Buechel (right) Mr Buechel served as BMW Group Australia CEO for five years, and leaves after leading BMW to reclaim its position, after 11 years, as the leading premium automotive brand in Australia in 2023. It remained ahead of Mercedes-Benz in 2024 – 26,341 versus 24,831 deliveries, the latter including the three-pointed star brand's van division – and sits ahead of it so far this year. It's a tighter race this year, with BMW sitting at 13,712 deliveries against 13,706 for Mercedes-Benz. At the same time, the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific, Jamie Cohen, is stepping down from his role after just over a year. ABOVE: Homero Becerra Gonzalez (left) and Jaime Cohen (right) He's being succeeded by Homero Becerra Gonzalez, who assumes the role on November 1, 2025. Mr Cohen will work closely with Mr Becerra Gonzalez before departing the company on December 31, 2025. Mr Becerra Gonzalez has an extensive background in finance, having headed up Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Iberia since earlier this year, serving in this role while simultaneously being managing director of Mercedes-Benz fleet and mobility subsidiary Athlon Iberia since 2021. He also has previously served as the head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in Italy. He takes over from Mr Cohen, who joined the Australia/Pacific division in April 2024, following a five-year tenure as the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Mexico. The outgoing local boss has more than 35 years of experience within the Mercedes-Benz Group. "Under his leadership, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific achieved sustained sales and market share growth in a challenging and dynamic geopolitical environment, including a steady rise in the share of electric vehicle deliveries," the company said in its release announcing the change. Mr Cohen joined after Mercedes-Benz moved to an agency sales model in Australia for its Cars division, which resulted in a sales downturn. The agency move saw Mercedes-Benz take ownership of dealership stock, and remove the ability for customers and dealership staff to negotiate on prices – a change that saw dealers sue the brand over what it called inadequate compensation. The Federal Court ruled against the dealers, and this month dismissed an appeal made against its ruling. Deliveries of vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Cars fell from 28,348 in 2021 to 26,801 in 2022, before dropping again in 2023 to 24,315, and then 19,989 in 2024. But there's light at the end of the tunnel, it would appear, with deliveries in the first half of 2025 up 15.9 per cent on the same period last year to 11,146 in total – Mercedes-Benz's best first-half of a year since 2023. BMW is well ahead of Mercedes-Benz in terms of electric vehicles (EVs), however. To the end of June, BMW has delivered 3090 EVs so far this year, while Mercedes-Benz has delivered 1581 – a figure that also includes EVs from its Mercedes-Benz Vans division. Content originally sourced from: Arch-rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have a close competition going on – just six deliveries separate them in this year's sales race – but unusually both brands have simultaneously announced local leadership changes. In press releases both dated July 14, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have confirmed new Australian bosses. Vikram Pawah is returning to the position of CEO of BMW Group Australia from September 1, 2025, having previously held the role between 2018 and 2020 and more recently served as head of BMW Group India – where, BMW notes, he presided over "consistent year-on-year [sales] increases". He takes over from Wolfgang Buechel, who has been promoted to vice president and head of Mini Global Sales, where he'll be responsible for developing and executing Mini's global sales strategy. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Vikram Pawah (left) and Wolfgang Buechel (right) Mr Buechel served as BMW Group Australia CEO for five years, and leaves after leading BMW to reclaim its position, after 11 years, as the leading premium automotive brand in Australia in 2023. It remained ahead of Mercedes-Benz in 2024 – 26,341 versus 24,831 deliveries, the latter including the three-pointed star brand's van division – and sits ahead of it so far this year. It's a tighter race this year, with BMW sitting at 13,712 deliveries against 13,706 for Mercedes-Benz. At the same time, the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific, Jamie Cohen, is stepping down from his role after just over a year. ABOVE: Homero Becerra Gonzalez (left) and Jaime Cohen (right) He's being succeeded by Homero Becerra Gonzalez, who assumes the role on November 1, 2025. Mr Cohen will work closely with Mr Becerra Gonzalez before departing the company on December 31, 2025. Mr Becerra Gonzalez has an extensive background in finance, having headed up Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Iberia since earlier this year, serving in this role while simultaneously being managing director of Mercedes-Benz fleet and mobility subsidiary Athlon Iberia since 2021. He also has previously served as the head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in Italy. He takes over from Mr Cohen, who joined the Australia/Pacific division in April 2024, following a five-year tenure as the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Mexico. The outgoing local boss has more than 35 years of experience within the Mercedes-Benz Group. "Under his leadership, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific achieved sustained sales and market share growth in a challenging and dynamic geopolitical environment, including a steady rise in the share of electric vehicle deliveries," the company said in its release announcing the change. Mr Cohen joined after Mercedes-Benz moved to an agency sales model in Australia for its Cars division, which resulted in a sales downturn. The agency move saw Mercedes-Benz take ownership of dealership stock, and remove the ability for customers and dealership staff to negotiate on prices – a change that saw dealers sue the brand over what it called inadequate compensation. The Federal Court ruled against the dealers, and this month dismissed an appeal made against its ruling. Deliveries of vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Cars fell from 28,348 in 2021 to 26,801 in 2022, before dropping again in 2023 to 24,315, and then 19,989 in 2024. But there's light at the end of the tunnel, it would appear, with deliveries in the first half of 2025 up 15.9 per cent on the same period last year to 11,146 in total – Mercedes-Benz's best first-half of a year since 2023. BMW is well ahead of Mercedes-Benz in terms of electric vehicles (EVs), however. To the end of June, BMW has delivered 3090 EVs so far this year, while Mercedes-Benz has delivered 1581 – a figure that also includes EVs from its Mercedes-Benz Vans division. Content originally sourced from:
Daily Telegraph
12 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
Luxury vans to shock Australia
Don't miss out on the headlines from On the Road. Followed categories will be added to My News. A new breed of beast is lurking in the Australian car market, and it's not a typical SUV or sedan. These machines are all about space, speed and luxury, and they might just be the most opulent people movers to hit Australian roads. The first is called the Zeekr 009 Grand, and it's a sub-variant of the already luxurious Zeekr 009 currently on the market. Zeekr, a member of the Geely group alongside Volvo and Polestar, initially unveiled the standard 009 in 2024, offering six or seven-seat variants priced from $135,900 and $139,900 before on-road costs. Zeekr 009 Grand. Picture: Supplied MORE: Gorgeous looks for new Italian supercar Sales have increased since the launch, with 66 vehicles sold through June of this year. Zeekr is looking to further explore uncharted territories with a proposal to introduce a more luxurious 'Grand' version of the 009. The Grand doesn't have a confirmed price for Australia; however, the variant has already hit the Chinese market at a price that's roughly double that of the standard 009 variant. It's by far the most luxurious vehicle I've sat in. From the inside out, the Grand is packed with features you'd typically expect in a high-end hotel suite. For starters, passengers can enjoy complete privacy thanks to a world-first revolutionary glass technology that offers 10 levels of adjustable window tinting. There are two reclining airline-style rear seats mounted behind the C-pillar, designed with legroom and passenger comfort in mind. Each seat is 24-way power adjustable and separated by a raised centre console that houses a touchscreen control pad for the massive 43-inch LED rear entertainment screen as well as a 31-speaker Yamaha surround sound system and an 18-litre refrigerator. Zeekr 009 Grand. Picture: Supplied Zeekr 009 Grand. Picture: Supplied MORE: What is the best car of the 21st century? The cabin itself is wrapped in hand-polished stainless-steel elements and real Himalayan marble, making it feel more like a private jet than your typical people mover. Like the base 009, the Grand features a dual-motor electric powertrain that can propel the people mover from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds in this application. For a car that weighs over three tonnes, that's pretty impressive. According to Zeekr, this variant offers a driving range of up to 702 km on China's optimistic CLTC test cycle. While the Grand would be welcomed to Australian showrooms, there's no guarantee it will be produced in right-hand drive at this stage. Zeekr is in the process of investigating the viability of a conversion for the Grand, which will be informed by the sales performance of other 009 variants globally. If Zeekr decides to make a right-hand variant and bring it to Australia, who would they compete with? Well, for starters, there is the Lexus LM500H. Priced from just over $220,000 (before on-roads), the top-spec Ultra Luxury version is a four-seat private jet on wheels. Power comes from a 2.4-litre turbocharged hybrid set up, delivering a combined 273kW to all four wheels — a far cry from the electric Zeekr, but still potent. Inside, the LM is kitted out with a 48-inch wide-screen display that can be split between passengers for personalised entertainment. There's also a mini fridge, plush Ottoman seating, and noise-cancelling technology. 2024 Lexus LM luxury people mover. 2024 Lexus LM luxury people mover. MORE: Huge change coming to Aussie roads Then there's BYD's luxury sub-brand Denza, which is tipped to arrive in Australia by the end of 2025 with its first model, the Denza D9. The D9 has been a runaway success in China, selling nearly 118,000 units in 2023. The top-spec versions are expected to cost around AUD $126,000 locally, though pricing hasn't been finalised. Buyers will be able to choose between three plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants and two full-electric versions, with driving ranges ranging from 600 km to 970 km, depending on the configuration. Inside, the D9 offers up to four or seven seats, a 15.6-inch floating touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital driver's display, and a head-up display. A 2024 refresh added electric suction doors and more premium touches aimed at family buyers with a taste for tech. If Denza launches the D9 here, it will add another high-end, hi-tech option to Australia's emerging premium electric people mover segment — one that values sustainability as much as comfort. It seems clear that several brands believe there's a growing market for luxury people movers. It is a niche that combines high-end comfort with cutting-edge technology and sustainability. This emerging demand could be the convincing factor that pushes Zeekr to bring their 009 Grand to Australian shores, offering buyers an entirely new level of opulence in the electric vehicle segment. Originally published as Zeekr 009 Grand: Could this be the most luxurious people mover ever?
Courier-Mail
15 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Luxury vans to shock Australia
Don't miss out on the headlines from On the Road. Followed categories will be added to My News. A new breed of beast is lurking in the Australian car market, and it's not a typical SUV or sedan. These machines are all about space, speed and luxury, and they might just be the most opulent people movers to hit Australian roads. The first is called the Zeekr 009 Grand, and it's a sub-variant of the already luxurious Zeekr 009 currently on the market. Zeekr, a member of the Geely group alongside Volvo and Polestar, initially unveiled the standard 009 in 2024, offering six or seven-seat variants priced from $135,900 and $139,900 before on-road costs. Zeekr 009 Grand. Picture: Supplied MORE: Gorgeous looks for new Italian supercar Sales have increased since the launch, with 66 vehicles sold through June of this year. Zeekr is looking to further explore uncharted territories with a proposal to introduce a more luxurious 'Grand' version of the 009. The Grand doesn't have a confirmed price for Australia; however, the variant has already hit the Chinese market at a price that's roughly double that of the standard 009 variant. It's by far the most luxurious vehicle I've sat in. From the inside out, the Grand is packed with features you'd typically expect in a high-end hotel suite. X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY What is the best car of the 21st century? Toyota LandCruiser Ford Mustang Holden Commodore VW Golf Porsche 911 Toyota HiLux MG3 Tesla Model Y Toyota RAV4 Bugatti Veyron Cast your vote For starters, passengers can enjoy complete privacy thanks to a world-first revolutionary glass technology that offers 10 levels of adjustable window tinting. There are two reclining airline-style rear seats mounted behind the C-pillar, designed with legroom and passenger comfort in mind. Each seat is 24-way power adjustable and separated by a raised centre console that houses a touchscreen control pad for the massive 43-inch LED rear entertainment screen as well as a 31-speaker Yamaha surround sound system and an 18-litre refrigerator. Zeekr 009 Grand. Picture: Supplied Zeekr 009 Grand. Picture: Supplied MORE: What is the best car of the 21st century? The cabin itself is wrapped in hand-polished stainless-steel elements and real Himalayan marble, making it feel more like a private jet than your typical people mover. Like the base 009, the Grand features a dual-motor electric powertrain that can propel the people mover from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds in this application. For a car that weighs over three tonnes, that's pretty impressive. According to Zeekr, this variant offers a driving range of up to 702 km on China's optimistic CLTC test cycle. While the Grand would be welcomed to Australian showrooms, there's no guarantee it will be produced in right-hand drive at this stage. Zeekr is in the process of investigating the viability of a conversion for the Grand, which will be informed by the sales performance of other 009 variants globally. If Zeekr decides to make a right-hand variant and bring it to Australia, who would they compete with? X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY Well, for starters, there is the Lexus LM500H. Priced from just over $220,000 (before on-roads), the top-spec Ultra Luxury version is a four-seat private jet on wheels. Power comes from a 2.4-litre turbocharged hybrid set up, delivering a combined 273kW to all four wheels — a far cry from the electric Zeekr, but still potent. Inside, the LM is kitted out with a 48-inch wide-screen display that can be split between passengers for personalised entertainment. There's also a mini fridge, plush Ottoman seating, and noise-cancelling technology. 2024 Lexus LM luxury people mover. 2024 Lexus LM luxury people mover. MORE: Huge change coming to Aussie roads Then there's BYD's luxury sub-brand Denza, which is tipped to arrive in Australia by the end of 2025 with its first model, the Denza D9. The D9 has been a runaway success in China, selling nearly 118,000 units in 2023. The top-spec versions are expected to cost around AUD $126,000 locally, though pricing hasn't been finalised. Buyers will be able to choose between three plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants and two full-electric versions, with driving ranges ranging from 600 km to 970 km, depending on the configuration. Inside, the D9 offers up to four or seven seats, a 15.6-inch floating touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital driver's display, and a head-up display. A 2024 refresh added electric suction doors and more premium touches aimed at family buyers with a taste for tech. If Denza launches the D9 here, it will add another high-end, hi-tech option to Australia's emerging premium electric people mover segment — one that values sustainability as much as comfort. It seems clear that several brands believe there's a growing market for luxury people movers. It is a niche that combines high-end comfort with cutting-edge technology and sustainability. This emerging demand could be the convincing factor that pushes Zeekr to bring their 009 Grand to Australian shores, offering buyers an entirely new level of opulence in the electric vehicle segment. Originally published as Zeekr 009 Grand: Could this be the most luxurious people mover ever?
