Chinese electric vehicle maker Zeekr8 U.S.C 2257Friday began taking orders for its first sports utility vehicle (SUV), the 7X, which will expand its EV range beyond its current sedans and multi-purpose vehicles to compete head-to-head with Tesla’s best-selling Model Y crossover. Scheduled for launch in September at a pre-sale price of RMB 239,900 ($33,812), the midsize compact crossover can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.8 seconds and travel as far as 780 km (485 miles) on a single charge. The Geely subsidiary expects the Zeekr 7X to be a main driver of growth going forward, as it targets annual delivery of 230,000 EVs and delivered roughly 104,000 units from January to July. By comparison, the long-range Model Y, priced at RMB 290,900 in China, travels 688 km per charge and boasts a sprint time of 0 to 100 km/h in five seconds. Delivery of the car in overseas markets will begin within the next 12 months, as the company expands its footprint in the Middle East, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.[Zeekr release, in Chinese]
