Zeekr won't take on Tesla Model 3 with EV sedan in Australia

Zeekr isn't afraid to play in niche spaces – evidenced in its confirmation of the 7GT electric shooting brake for the Australian market – but the brand's global vice president says there are no current plans to add a sedan to take on the Tesla Model 3.

Speaking with Australian media at Zeekr Tower in Hangzhou, China, Zeekr International vice president Mars Chen said the Chinese brand isn't looking to add the Zeekr 007 – a sedan sibling to the aforementioned 7GT and existing 7X SUV – to the local lineup.

"7 sedan? Frankly speaking, not in this moment [for Australia]. In a few years [we might consider] the 001," Mr Chen said.

"We always will keep [looking] closely at the market, 'when' and 'should' we bring the 001 to the world."

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Known in China as the '007', the Zeekr 7 sedan sits alongside the '007GT' or '7GT' shooting brake and 7X SUV in the Chinese luxury brand's lineup, sharing its architecture and drivetrains with its '7 series' relatives – not to be confused with BMW.

That means single- and dual-motor electric drivetrains, with the most powerful AWD variant offering 585kW/812Nm for a 0-100km/h claim of just 2.73 seconds. With the largest 103kWh battery pack, Zeekr claims the 007 offers up to 905km of driving range based on the more lenient CLTC test cycle, with its 900V electrical architecture able to replenish 640km in just 10 minutes via 6C ultra-fast charging.

Like the 007GT/7GT, buyers in China can opt for the FR-Line Performance Package, which adds 20-inch forged alloy wheels in bronze-gold sitting ahead of drilled brake discs with four-piston front calipers.

Inside, the sporty option package adds unique FR-Line suede upholstery with yellow highlights; metal pedals; performance seats up front with heating and ventilation plus active bolsters for the driver; and a performance steering wheel finished in a leather/suede combination with satellite rotary controls.

While Australia will miss out on the 7 sedan, at least for now, we can expect the bulk of these features to be available with the 7GT when it arrives in Australia within the next 12 months.

As for the 001, the larger and more powerful EV shooting brake entered production back in 2021 and is already on sale in other global regions like select European left-hand drive markets.

Zeekr's first model shares its underpinnings with the Polestar 4, and is made in the same factory in China, but offers a quad-motor 'FR' flagship with a crazy 930kW of power and 1280Nm of torque – though this variant appears to still be exclusive to China.

For export markets like Sweden, it appears the most powerful grade features a 400kW dual-motor AWD drivetrain hooked up to a 100kWh lithium-ion battery, good for a 3.8-second sprint from 0-100km/h. The 001 has a claimed WLTP driving range of up to 620km for the single-motor RWD version with the same battery.

It's worth noting these figures are very similar to the Polestar 4 in Australia, which offers the same 400kW from the 'Dual Motor' version and up to 620km from its 94kWh (usable) lithium-ion battery pack.

Mr Chen added the 001 is a possibility for Australia "probably in a few years".

Zeekr will effectively double its lineup in the next 12 months, confirming the 7GT alongside the new 8X and 9X (above) SUVs. Details like specific launch timing as well as pricing and specifications are still to be confirmed, but Zeekr Australia is expected to lead the rollout with the 9X flagship SUV.

Both the 9X and smaller 8X feature a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine mated with either two or three electric motors, the most potent powertrain delivering total system outputs of over 1000kW/1400Nm and between 250-300km of electric driving range (CLTC).

The new releases should keep the luxury brand within the Geely Auto Group on its current upward trajectory in Australia, with sales in 2026 up by over 900 per cent largely thanks to the increasingly popular 7X EV SUV.

Zeekr's mid-size SUV rival to the Tesla Model Y currently accounts for more than 95 per cent of the brand's sales in Australia, and Mr Chen says current demand and backorder numbers indicate the company could sustain monthly deliveries at more than double the current rate – for reference, the 7X returned 973 registrations in April and is sitting at 2698 year to date (YTD).

That's still behind the Tesla Model Y (6719) and BYD Sealion 7 (6248), though the race to the sales crown in the second half of 2026 could get interesting once Zeekr sorts out its backlog of orders and its extended wait times. The brand's vice president hopes to have these sorted out Down Under by mid-year.

Zeekr, year to date, is now sitting ahead of Volvo (2838 vs 2351), another brand under the Geely umbrella but one acquired by the Chinese automaker instead of one established by it.

Should Zeekr enter the electric sedan segment in Australia? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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