With the massive industry-wide shift to electric vehicles, several new players are getting into the game. That includes Zeekr, a premium Chinese EV brand owned by Geely Automobile Holdings that launched in 2021. Zeekr’s first model, the Zeekr 001, is already on the road, and now, one example of the Zeekr 001 has been spotted at the GM Milford Proving Ground undergoing benchmark testing.
Our spy photographers caught this Zeekr 001 EV parked outside the front security gate at the Milford Proving Ground before it drove around the perimeter of the facility, suggesting GM is interested in getting the lowdown on this potential competitor. Although General Motors has been seen benchmarking a wide variety of rival EV models, this is the first time the Zeekr 001 has been seen at GM’s facilities.
The Zeekr 001 launched in October of the 2021 calendar year, with nearly 72,000 units delivered to Chinese customers across 330 cities through the 2022 calendar year. Looking ahead, the Zeekr is set to expand sales of the 001 to Europe and possibly the U.S. as well, which would provide even further justification for GM’s interest in the Chinese-built EV. Notably, Ford was also recently seen benchmarking the Zeekr 001, per a report from our sister publication, Ford Authority.
As for the specs, the Zeekr 001 is available in multiple configurations, starting with the Long Range RWD, a single-motor model powered by a 100 kWh battery and rear-wheel drive. Range is estimated at 388 miles. There’s also a pair of all-wheel-drive models with two all-electric motors, dubbed the Performance and the Privilege, the range estimated at 363 miles. Combined output for both all-wheel-drive models is set at 400 kW (536 horsepower) and 700 Nm (516 pound-feet) of torque, enough to propel the Zeekr 001 from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.8 seconds. Further highlights include air suspension, as equipped by the Privilege.
It should also be mentioned that Zeekr has several other models beyond the 001, including the Zeekr 009 MPV, which launched in 2022, and the forthcoming Zeekr X SUV.
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Comments
Just shows how competitive China EV auto manufacturing is. Not a good sign for US imo.
So at first I thought a EQ knock off with a different front end. Then the side shot reveals a Lyriq look with a different front and EQ mid body…LOL…but then the mileage caught me…is that NA standard or the world standard? The article should be clear on that point and its probably that loose world standard rating.
Why can the Chinese design a much better looking EV than GM?
The Zeekr 001 is a very good looking car!!!
Like everything else the Chinese will “dump” vehicles at a cheap price knocking out the competition. They do not need any liberal government welfare.
Evs are not the future. This is a liberal agenda, to prop up politicians and super pacs, just like the oil industry. This is nothing more than a power grab