Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle (EV) brand under the Geely Holding Group, introduced its latest model, the Zeekr Mix, on October 23, marking yet another innovative stride for the Chinese automaker.
Following the success of its first model, the Zeekr 001 shooting brake, the new Mix represents the company’s ambition to challenge industry norms and redefine vehicle categories. Notably, the Zeekr Mix is not officially categorized as either an SUV (sport utility vehicle) or an MPV (multi-purpose vehicle), despite bearing the look of a typical MPV.
In a communication with media, Zeekr management explained that the decision to avoid labeling the Zeekr Mix as an MPV stems from the fact that MPVs generally feature six or seven seats, while the Mix is a five-seater designed with families in mind.
This positioning aligns with the company’s desire to innovate, offering a unique blend of features that combine the practicality of an MPV with the ruggedness and ground clearance of an SUV. Zeekr’s vice president, Lin Jinwen, described the vehicle as “extremely creative,” emphasizing that it breaks industry conventions. “We are the first to break the industry practice, and more industry-leading products will emerge from China’s automotive industry in the future,” Lin added.
The Zeekr Mix is not only a novel concept but also shares its roots with Zeekr’s collaboration with Waymo, the autonomous driving technology company. The Mix is the sister model to the driverless vehicles Zeekr is manufacturing for Waymo, which are currently being tested in the United States.
This reflects the company’s broader vision of exploring cutting-edge mobility solutions. The Mix is built on the SEA-M architecture, a derivative of Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), which has been under development for five years as part of Geely’s exploration into the future of transportation.
The Zeekr Mix boasts dimensions of 4,688 mm in length, 1,995 mm in width, and 1,755 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,008 mm. It is available in two variants, each differing in battery capacity but sharing the same core specifications.
The entry-level variant features a 76-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, priced at RMB 279,900 ($39,280), while the higher-end version is equipped with a 102-kWh nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery pack from battery giant CATL, starting at RMB 299,900.
The 76-kWh pack is part of Zeekr’s in-house developed Golden Battery system, which can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 10.5 minutes, making it one of the fastest charging systems in the world. It offers a CLTC (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle) range of 550 kilometers.
The 102-kWh Qilin Battery, sourced from CATL, takes 15 minutes to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent and provides an impressive CLTC range of 702 kilometers. Both versions of the Mix come standard with a single electric motor delivering 310 kW of peak power and 440 Nm of peak torque, allowing the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 6.8 seconds.
One of the standout features of the Zeekr Mix is its innovative swivel front seats, which can rotate to face the rear passengers when the vehicle is in parked mode. According to Zeekr management, these seats cost three times as much to develop as conventional seats, underscoring the company’s commitment to providing a premium and unique driving experience. The swivel function also enables the seats to rotate towards the door, making it easier for users to engage in activities like fishing or simply exiting the vehicle in a more convenient manner.
Zeekr’s introduction of the Zeekr Mix is another bold move aimed at pushing the boundaries of conventional automotive design. The model follows the unexpected success of the Zeekr 001, a shooting brake that became the first of its kind among Chinese carmakers when it launched in 2021. The 001’s success prompted several other EV manufacturers to explore similar models, demonstrating Zeekr’s influence in shaping market trends. The company hopes that the Mix, with its crossover appeal between an SUV and an MPV, will have a similar impact on the market.
Customers who place orders for the Zeekr Mix before November 30 will receive a suite of benefits worth up to RMB 43,200, including RMB 35,000 worth of free access to Zeekr’s advanced driver assistance system (ZAD), which enhances driving safety and convenience. Zeekr announced that the first batch of production vehicles for the Mix rolled off the assembly line on October 21, with deliveries scheduled to begin on October 26. The expected delivery cycle for customized versions of the vehicle is currently between 3 to 6 weeks, according to information on the Zeekr app.
