Zeekr 009 electric MPV launched in China with 2 battery options [Update]

  • The MPV is equipped with Qilin batteries that offers 822 km (510 mi.) of CLTC range
  • Zeekr's second launch is based on the SEA Platform & offers seating for 6
  • Gets 200 kW motors on the front and rear & rides on 20-inch wheels
  • Gets optional air suspension, 'Smart Bar,' 15.4-inch touchscreen & rear tray tables

Update: ‘Zeekr 009 shuttle at the 2023 Asian Games’ section added.

Is Geely Auto Group’s premium EV brand Zeekr banking on China’s new three-child policy in planning new products? Here’s everything we know about the electric minivan (electric MPV) that has just hit the Chinese market.

Design

Zeekr designed the 009 at its global design center in Gothenburg, Sweden, with Stefan Sielaff, Geely Auto Group’s Vice President of Global Design, overseeing the project.

Front

At the front, the Zeekr 009 features a huge, Rolls-Royce-style stately grille with a thick slab of chrome at the top and vertical struts. However, less shiny grille options are available, as seen in the pictures from China’s MIIT (above). This grille consists of multi-purpose 154 LED dot-matrix lights. The new electric MPV has edgy split headlamps, consisting of inverted U-shaped DRLs on the top and horizontal main lamps in the middle section of the bumper.

Side

On the sides, in addition to some typical features of minivans, such as sliding rear doors, large windows, and upright D-pillars, the 009 has 20-inch two-tone alloy wheels, C-pillar trim, and standard door handles. The thick chrome strip above the windows may look tacky or unnecessary to customers in the global market. The kick in the beltline before the C-pillar is a neat touch, though.

Zeekr 009 rear live image
The Zeekr 009 mixes a traditional MPV shape with futuristic design cues. Image Source: China’s MIIT

Rear

At the rear, the electric minivan features an upright tailgate with a huge windscreen – the largest in its class, T-shaped combination lamps, a narrow full-width light band right above the combination lamps, and a block-lettered brand logo. The model name is printed on the right side of the tailgate.

Interior & Features

The interior of the Zeekr 009 looks simple and conventional. It features a curvy dashboard with a large floating touchscreen infotainment system attached to it and a reconfigurable digital instrument cluster integrated into it.

Steering & armrest

The electric MPV’s leather-wrapped steering wheel is a three-spoke unit with a flattened bottom and contrast stitching. The floor console is set high and houses an armrest that doubles as a butterfly lid to secure a roomy storage compartment lying underneath.

15.4-inch touchscreen

The center touchscreen is a large 15.4-inch display with a landscape orientation and curved corners. The instrument cluster is a fully-digital 10.25-inch display, so no surprises there. There’s also a ceiling-mounted 15.6-inch screen, with five pre-set adjustments for viewing angles, for the rear-seat entertainment system – this and the center infotainment system run on Zeekr OS software. The Yamaha premium audio system comprises 6 speakers integrated into the driver’s & middle-row occupants’ headrests and 14 more high-fidelity speakers around the cabin for an immersive surround-sound effect.

Connected car technology comes by means of ‘Mobile App’ remote control, while there’s an in-car app market as well. A high-speed 5G network is also available, with OTA vehicle updates offered by the company.

Sofaro first class seats

The second row has two individual “Sofaro first class” seats that are covered in soft Nappa leather and have up to 12 cm (4.7 in.) of cushioning. They boast electric adjustments, massage options with memory and extra-wide headrests with side bolsters. Further, these seats can be heated or cooled and feature customizable profiles as well. The inner armrests house retractable leather-lined tray tables, while the side armrests include a storage compartment. Meanwhile, the sliding doors house a small touchscreen for interacting with the climate control system.

Sunroof & storage

There’s a usable third row of seats, and while they look comfortable enough, the width looks just enough to accommodate two passengers. The Zeekr 009 also features a dual-sunroof design that provides an impressive 7.4 square meters (79.6 square feet) of glass real estate, allowing light to flood the cabin for a greater sense of space and airiness. The maximum storage volume of the trunk is 2,979 liters (105.2 cubic feet).

Zeekr 009 roof
The Zeekr 009 has two sunroofs, a normal unit at the front and a panoramic unit at the rear. Source: Zeekr

Safety

Zeekr AD Fully Intelligent Driving Assistance System

According to Geely, the 009 electric MPV is a ‘luxury intelligent pure electric MPV’. It can therefore be optioned with the Zeekr AD Fully Intelligent Driving Assistance System, which means autonomous driving capabilities. The system is powered by two high-performance 7nm Mobileye EyeQ5H SoCs and utilizes Cross-Vision Fusion Algorithm to process the data streaming in from various sensors.

The so-called ‘Falcon Eye Vidar’ suite combines 7 8-megapixel long-range cameras, 4 short-range surround-view HD cameras, interior & exterior monitoring cameras, and a rear streaming camera. The suite also includes a long-sensing front radar capable of searching up to 250 meters (820 feet) ahead of the vehicle and 12 short-range radars.

Source: Youtube/Wheelsboy

Some of the Zeekr 009’s other features include wireless phone charging, ‘AI Mate intelligent assistant’ with deep learning capabilities, Face ID recognition, 360-degree cameras, adaptive cruise control with autonomous emergency braking, Driver Status Monitoring, Lane Change Warning & Lane Keeping Assist, among other safety features.

Specifications

Dimensions

Built on the SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) platform, the Zeekr 009 is a huge electric MPV. It measures 5,209 mm (205 in.) in length and 2,024 mm (79.6 in.) in width. It can be as tall as 1,856 mm or 73 in. with the air suspension raised, or 1,848 mm or 72.7 in. with the air suspension lowered. The wheelbase takes up 3,205 mm (126.1 in.) of the overall length. The all-electric luxury MPV seats only six occupants.

Zeekr claims the 009’s shell consists of the world’s largest single-piece die-casted rear aluminum body. Measuring 1.4 meters in length and 1.6 meters in width, this rear body comes from the world’s largest, 7,200-ton die-casting machine. Single-piece die-casted body makes the vehicle stiffer, which reduces deformations in the event of an impact.

AspectZeekr 009 Specification
Length5,209 mm (205 in.)
Width2,024 mm (79.6 in.)
Height (with air suspension raised/air suspension lowered)1,856 mm (73 in.) / 1,848 mm (72.7 in.)
Wheelbase3,205 mm (126.1 in.)
Front Track1,701 mm (66.9 in.)
Rear Track1,713 mm (67.4 in.)
Front Overhang897 mm (35.3 in.)
Rear Overhang1,107 mm (43.5 in.)
Approach Angle13.1° (air suspension raised) / 13° (air suspension lowered)
Departure Angle17.5° (air suspension raised) / 15° (air suspension lowered)
Curb Weight2,830 kg (6,239 lb.)
Gross Weight3,320 kg (7,319 lb.)
Seating Capacity6
Track, Overhang, Angle & Weight values: MIIT declaration data. Rest of the values: ZeekrLife website.

Powertrain

The electric minivan is propelled by two high-performance Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors with a combined output of 400 kW (536 hp) and 686 Nm (506 lb.-ft.) of torque, spinning all four tires using an intelligent four-wheel-drive system. Power for the electric motors comes from either a 116 kWh or 140 kWh ternary lithium-ion battery pack. The larger of these packs offer a maximum range of 822 km (510 mi.), while the smaller unit allows a range of up to 702 km (436 mi.), as per a CLTC combined cycle.

The Zeekr 009 is the world’s first model to integrate batteries with CATL’s third-gen ‘cell-to-pack technology’. The so-called Qilin batteries have the potential to offer a range of over 1,000 km (621 miles), thanks to a high-volume utilization efficiency of 72% and a high energy density of up to 255 Wh/kg.

AspectZeekr 009 Specification
Drivetrain LayoutAWD
No. of MotorsTwo
Peak Power400 kW (536 hp)
Peak Torque686 Nm (506 lb.-ft.)
0-100 kph (0-62 mph)4.5 seconds
Battery116 kWh & 140 kWh
Range (CLTC combined cycle)702 km & 822 km (436 mi & 510 mi)
Zeekr 009 specifications (Source: ZeekrLife website)

The Qilin batteries have been developed by CATL for both Li-NMC and LFP cells. The 255 Wh/kg energy density is possible with Li-NMC cells, while the highest possible energy density with LFP cells is 160 Wh/kg. Zeekr hasn’t revealed the 009 MPV’s charging speeds, though CATL claims its new-age batteries can be fast-charged from 10-80% SoC in just 10 minutes!

Price & Release date

In China, the Zeekr 009 electric MPV costs CNY 499,000 (USD 73,550) in the base WE variant and CNY 588,000 (USD 86,668) in the top-end ME variant. As per Geely Group’s Twitter handle, on January 9, 2023, the very first Zeekr 009 rolled off the company’s Ningbo plant. Customer deliveries of the all-electric MPV commenced soon after.

Zeekr 009 shuttle at the 2023 Asian Games

The 19th Asian Games will be hosted from September 23 to October 8, 2023, and will be held at Hangzhou city in the Zhejiang province of China. Zeekr’s luxury electric minivan has been chosen as the official vehicle to transport the games’ athletes, along with the esteemed members belonging to the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia, as per Chinese reports.

TopElectricSUV says

In China, the premium MPV market is dominated by foreign carmakers, with Buicks, Toyotas, Hondas, VWs, and even Mercedes models competing relentlessly with local players. However, with the emergence of the new energy vehicle segment, Chinese brands have stayed ahead of the curve with vans like the Voyah Dreamer, Denza D9, Maxus MIFA 9, and the Hongqi HM9 grabbing the limelight. For Zeekr, the launch of the 009 presents it another opportunity to not just improve sales, but also its brand appeal.

Also See: Electric Volvo Minivan/MPV confirmed; debuting later in 2023

Zeekr 009 FAQs

What is the Zeekr 009 price & release date?

The 009 is now on sale in China. It costs costs CNY 499,000 in the base WE variant and CNY 588,000 in the top-end ME variant.

What is the Zeekr 009 range?

The 009 comes in 702 km & 822 km (436 mi & 510 mi) range versions.

Which are the rivals to the 009?

The Maxus MIFA 9 and the Voyah Dreamer are two recent launches in the Chinese electric MPV market.

Featured Image Source: Zeekr