Zeekr is pivoting from being an electric vehicle-only brand, adding new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models – and they could come to Australia.
The Zeekr 9X PHEV, a Rolls-Royce-aping large SUV, was revealed at the 2025 Shanghai auto show in April before its interior and preliminary specs were announced earlier this month as order books opened in China.
The three-row luxury SUV is the previously electric-only brand’s first hybrid of any kind, with the automaker confirming plans for global sales.
Zeekr Australia managing director Frank Li has told CarExpert the 9X is currently under evaluation for an Australian debut and could be here within 12 months of a decision being made.
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It could be the second hybrid in Zeekr Australia showrooms, given the local arm has previously told CarExpert another model is potentially on the way – now expected to be the 8X PHEV SUV.
“We have just launched the 9X in China – and we have another amazing product to be launched in China, the 8X,” Zeekr Australian managing director Frank Li said.
“That shows that our company’s strategy is not only to bring the pure EV, but also the PHEV to customers – and Australia is definitely one of the most potential PHEV markets for us as well.”
While the 8X PHEV is yet to be revealed by Zeekr, Mr Li confirmed it’s on the cards for Australia and is around the same size as a BMW X5 SUV – which measures 4935mm long, 2004mm wide and 1765mm tall.
The 9X, meanwhile, measures 5.2-metres long and runs a two-plus-two-plus-two seating layout in China.
It sits on the SEA-S 900V architecture with ‘Super Hybrid’ tech from parent company Geely, seen on models in Australia including the recently announced 2026 Geely Starray EM-i SUV.
While the Starray uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine and single electric motor, the 9X runs a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor on each axle and a 70kWh battery.
The 660kW all-wheel drive powertrain offers a combined driving range of ‘over 1000km’ and 380km of electric-only range based on the CLTC measure, which is around 312km on the more accurate WLTP scale.
A ‘Hyper’ performance flagship uses a third electric motor for a 1030kW total and 0-100km/h in a claimed 3.1 seconds.
Both the 8X and 9X would join a trio of EVs already in local showrooms since the Zeekr brand’s debut in Australia in 2024: the X SUV, 009 people mover and its newest model, the Tesla Model Y-rivalling 7X electric SUV.
The brand is on track to exceed its goal of selling more than 3000 vehicles in Australia this year, claiming 2000 pre-orders for the 7X on top of 527 X SUVs and 83 sales of the 009 people mover year-to-date.
