At the upcoming Shanghai Auto Show, Zeekr will showcase its newly developed hybrid system designed for large SUVs and MPVs. CEO An Kongwei revealed that this system will make its debut at the show in April 2024, with an official launch expected in the second half of next year.
The Zeekr brand initially focused on the pure electric vehicle market, but in an interview in August 2023, An Kongwei stated that the brand had no plans for hybrid models. However, in July 2024, he disclosed that while the company continues to focus on the pure electric vehicle market, models with extended range are under consideration.
In August 2024, Zeekr officially announced the launch of both pure electric and hybrid models. The first to be released will be a new hybrid SUV designed to provide users with better power and range. An Kongwei noted that hybrid technology will allow the vehicle to operate in electric mode at low speeds while using the combustion engine to save energy on highways.
In September of this year, a hybrid version of the Zeekr 001 was spotted testing on the roads in China. There were no notable exterior differences between the test version and the production version released this year. The hybrid version is expected to launch shortly after the prototype is unveiled.
Zeekr joins the ranks of pure electric vehicle manufacturers like Afetr, Expeng, and NIO in starting to offer hybrid models. The popularity of hybrid models among Chinese consumers is evident, particularly with the tremendous success of models like Li Auto and Aito EREV.
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