Zeekr launches 9X luxury hybrid SUV: Starting at $65,440, orders surpass 10,000 units within 13 minutes

• The Zeekr 9X marks Zeekr's first hybrid model and is one of the most expensive vehicles from a domestic automaker in the Chinese market.
• Since pre-sales began on August 29, the Zeekr 9X has received nearly 80,000 pre-orders.

Zeekr (NYSE: ZK) officially launched the Zeekr 9X large SUV (sport utility vehicle), aiming to expand its presence in the luxury vehicle market with the hybrid model.

The Geely Auto (HKG: 0175) electric vehicle (EV) unit rolled out the model at an event in Shanghai today. This marks Zeekr's first hybrid offering following the launch of multiple battery electric vehicle (BEV) models over the past few years.

The Zeekr 9X starts at RMB 465,900 ($65,440), with an effective starting price of RMB 455,900 after a limited-time RMB 10,000 trade-in discount. Pre-orders began on August 29 at a starting price of RMB 479,900.

Deliveries for the large hybrid SUV will begin tomorrow, though one variant will begin shipping in late November.

Shortly after the Zeekr 9X launch event, Geely senior vice president Victor Yang said on Weibo that the model secured over 10,000 firm orders within its first 13 minutes.

According to Yang, the SUV has received nearly 80,000 pre-orders over the past month.

The six-seat full-size luxury SUV represents Zeekr's latest effort in the premium market. Its four variants start at RMB 455,900, RMB 485,900, RMB 559,900, and RMB 599,900 respectively.

Measuring 5,239 mm in length, 2,019 mm in width, and 1,819 mm in height with a 3,169 mm wheelbase, it ranks among China's largest vehicles.

As the first model built on Zeekr's SEA-S platform, it features a hybrid powertrain with a 2.0T engine and employs a full-stack 900-volt hybrid high-voltage architecture.

The Zeekr 9X's three silicon carbide motors deliver a peak output of 1,030 kW (1,381 horsepower), enabling a 0-100 km/h acceleration in 3.1 seconds.

The large SUV offers battery packs with 55 kWh and 70 kWh capacities, providing a CLTC range of 300 to 380 kilometers.

Both packs support charging rates up to 6C, enabling a 20-80 percent charge in about 9 minutes and a 10-80 percent charge in 10.3 minutes.

The two lower-priced variants of the Zeekr 9X feature a single Nvidia Drive Thor-U chip delivering 700 TOPS of computing power, paired with the Zeekr G-Pilot H7 smart driving system.

The two higher-priced variants feature dual Thor-U chips and utilize the Zeekr G-Pilot H9 solution, supporting Level 3 autonomous driving.

The Zeekr 9X represents Zeekr's latest venture in China's luxury vehicle market following the Zeekr 009. The top variant of the Zeekr 009 starts at a price of RMB 899,000, making it one of the most expensive models from a domestic automaker.

Unlike the Zeekr 009, which targets the niche MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) market, the Zeekr 9X aims for the more popular SUV segment, potentially boosting Zeekr's sales performance.

Beyond the Zeekr 009, Zeekr has commenced pre-sales for the updated Zeekr 001 shooting brake, with the model set for official launch on October 11.

The Zeekr brand delivered 17,626 vehicles in August, marking a 2.16 percent year-on-year decline but a 3.82 percent increase from July, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.

From January to August, the brand delivered 125,343 vehicles, representing a 3.13 percent year-on-year increase.

($1 = RMB 7.1195)