- Zeekr appears keen to take on BYD’s Fangchengbao off-road brand.
- Future off-roaders could tap into technology from the wider Geely Group.
- It also has the hybrid expertise to challenge the BYD Shark 6.
Zeekr isn’t satisfied with taking over the world of luxury EVs and plug-in hybrids, because Geely’s premium brand now says it wants a piece of the off-road SUV market too, and possibly the pickup truck segment on top of that. Neither is confirmed, but both are on the table.
So far, Zeekr has kept to the premium and luxury end of the market with vehicles like the X, 7X, 8X, and 9X, plus the 009 electric MPV. Speaking recently with Australian media, Zeekr vice president Mars Chen said off-roaders are being explored but stopped short of confirming anything for production.
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“Off-road hardcore SUV is definitely one direction,” Chen said, according to Australia’s Drive. “We are doing the research, but will we create a G-Wagen-style, box-style? This is not clear. But the current 9X and 8X SUVs, they are not bad off-road. They may not be that extreme, but they definitely have some capability.”
Were Zeekr to build a new off-roader, it could square up nicely against models built by Fangchengbao, one of the many brands owned by BYD. It currently sells two Land Rover Defender rivals, namely the Bao 5 and Bao 8, also badged as Denza models in certain markets, including Australia. Both are feature-packed and easily undercut European competitors.
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Off-roaders aren’t the only thing tempting Zeekr. During the same interview with Drive, Chen suggested the automaker is also weighing a move into the pickup segment, potentially spawning a rival to the BYD Shark 6.
“Just now, we are having the internal discussion, it’s just a discussion,” he said when asked about a pickup. “We want to redefine every segment. We will check on how disruptive we can be if we enter.”
Zeekr’s Current Flagship
For now, those looking to get behind the wheel of the most premium and luxurious Zeekr can buy the 9X. Unveiled last year, it looks like a cross between a Rolls-Royce Cullinan and a Range Rover and is sold exclusively as a plug-in hybrid. The base version rocks a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine working alongside two electric motors, delivering a combined 885 hp. An even more powerful version with three electric motors is available, producing 1,381 hp.
