Geely’s high-end electric brand Zeekr has announced its third model, which is a compact SUV. According to Zeekr insiders, the car will use the Zeekr 003 name. The new car is planned to debut at the Shanghai Auto Show in April before being introduced to some European markets.
The Zeekr 003, internally codenamed BX1E, is based on parent company Geely’s “vast architecture,” which is also used by Zeekr’s first two models, the Zeekr 001 and Zeekr 009 MPV.
Little is known about the Zeekr 003’s powertrain, but Autocar understands the car will be sold as a single-motor rear-wheel-drive or dual-motor four-wheel-drive system, with outputs ranging from 268bhp to 422bhp.
Designed by an in-house team led by Geely Design Director Stefan Sielaff at the Geely Design Center in Gothenburg, Sweden, the compact SUV features a family-style front fascia that includes LED daytime lighting integrated into the bonnet closure. The running lights and the front double vertical horizontal headlights are designed, and the taillights do not adopt a penetrating shape, and the middle ZEEKR logo is inlaid in the center of the breakpoint.
The new Zeekr models feature deep crease lines on the sides, traditional wing mirrors, recessed door handles, and a raised waistline with wide C-pillars and a sloping roofline.
A sister model to the Smart #1, the 003 is said to measure approximately 4300mm in length, 1830mm in width and 1640mm in height.
In 2022, ZEEKR will sell 72,000 vehicles worldwide, most of which will be in China. This year, ZEEKR plans to double its annual sales to 140,000 vehicles; in order to achieve this goal, ZEEKR is conducting final training for global sales. In addition, as part of its globalization plan, ZEEKR also submitted an application for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States in December last year.
