Zeekr Unveils Upgraded Zeekr 001 with Enhanced Features and Lowered Costs

The upgraded specifications and reduced prices of the Zeekr 001 are anticipated to maintain its competitiveness in the midst of intense pricing competition, aiding Zeekr in reaching its goal of doubling sales this year.

Zeekr, the luxury electric vehicle (EV) subsidiary of Geely Holding Group, has unveiled the revamped Zeekr 001 shooting brake model. The company aims to keep this flagship model competitive by introducing upgraded specifications and lower prices, addressing the challenges posed by fierce price competition.

The 2024 Zeekr 001 was officially launched at an event in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, where Zeekr is headquartered. The updated model boasts the 800 V electrical system, a distinguishing feature shared with premium models like the Zeekr 007, launched in recent months.

Most electric vehicles introduced in recent years have utilized the conventional 400 V platform. The higher voltage of the 800 V system facilitates faster charging and reduced energy consumption, albeit at a higher component cost.

Zeekr continues to offer four variants of the updated Zeekr 001, including two WE Editions, both priced at a starting point of RMB 269,000 ($37,370). Another ME version starts at RMB 299,000, and a YOU version starts at RMB 329,000.

These prices represent a reduction compared to the Zeekr 001’s prices in recent months, even after discounts.

Previously, the Zeekr 001, in its four versions, had starting prices ranging from RMB 300,000 to RMB 386,000 before discounts. In August 2023, a promotional offer lowered the starting prices to RMB 269,000 and RMB 319,000 for two entry-level versions, extending the promotion through January 15, 2024.

The latest pricing maintains the 2024 Zeekr 001’s starting price at the same level as the 2023 model’s post-promotion price, with a RMB 20,000 reduction for the higher-trim variants.

In addition to the price adjustments, Zeekr has implemented significant upgrades to the specifications of the Zeekr 001, while retaining the same exterior design.

Among the WE variants, one features a single motor with an upgraded peak power of 310 kW, compared to the previous 200 kW. This enhanced powertrain enables the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, an improvement over the 6.9 seconds of the old model.

The other three versions are equipped with dual motors, boasting a combined peak power of 580 kW. The dual-motor WE version can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, while the other two versions achieve the same feat in 3.3 seconds.

The dual-motor WE version is powered by a 95-kWh capacity Shenxing Battery from CATL, offering a CLTC range of 675 kilometers. CATL launched the Shenxing Battery in August 2023, featuring lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry and claiming a 400-km range on a 10-minute charge.

The 2024 Zeekr 001 supports 5C charging, taking just 11.5 minutes to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent, adding 472 kilometers of range, as stated during the launch event.

The other three variants are powered by the 100-kWh capacity Qilin Battery, also from CATL, based on lithium ternary chemistry. The Qilin Battery, introduced on June 23, 2022, is compatible with both LFP chemistry and lithium ternary chemistry.

Despite having the same chemistry and pack size, the Qilin Battery offers a 13 percent increase in power compared to the 4680 battery, as claimed by CATL at the battery launch.

The single-motor Zeekr 001 with Qilin Battery achieves a CLTC range of 750 kilometers, while the dual-motor versions achieve a CLTC range of 705 kilometers. These versions support a maximum charge multiplier of 4C and take 15 minutes to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent.

The updated Zeekr 001 now includes standard LiDAR placed on the roof, enhancing the capabilities of the assisted driving system. It also features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip, the preferred cockpit chip for recent high-end models.

Hardware upgrades extend to various areas, including air suspension, audio, seats, and satellite communications.

The updated Zeekr 001 retains Mobileye’s assisted driving solutions. Through collaborative research and development, Zeekr and Mobileye aim to expand coverage of high-level ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) functionality in urban areas to over 60 cities by the end of March and to more than 90 percent of China’s cities in the second quarter.