Zeekrs new 8X And 9X SUVs will come to market with extended-range hybrid powertrains, but their chief engineer says all-electric versions are possible.
In conversation with Daily Sparkz At Auto China 2026 in Beijing, Kennet Pettersson, chief mechanical architecture engineer at Zeekr Europe, said that while there were no plans yet to produce EV versions of the 8X and 9X in-house, both “could easily come to market with BEVs.”
“I think we could do it pretty quickly because it’s a BEV (platform) – we rip out the engine, take out the fuel tank and then add a bigger battery,” Mr Pettersson said.
“9X and 8X are BEVs from the start, so we started with BEV and then added the engine.”
With Daily Sparkz you can save thousands on a new car. Click Here to get a great deal.
The Zeekr 8X and 9X are both targeted for the Australian market and are expected to arrive in local showrooms either very late in 2026 or sometime in 2027.
Measuring 5100mm long, 1998mm wide and 1780mm high with a 3069mm wheelbase, the two-row Zeekr 8X is almost as long as a BMW X7; while the larger and more slab-shaped 9X increases these dimensions to 5239/2029/1819/3169 mm.
Both SUVs feature Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) powertrains that combine a 205kW 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two or three electric motors and either 55.1kWh or 70kWh battery packs.
The two-motor versions offer a system output of 660 kW/935 Nm, while the most powerful three-motor variants boast a whopping 1030 kW/1410 Nm. The range of electric vehicles in the Chinese CLTC cycle is now around 350-400 km depending on the variant, with the total combined range being well over 1000 km.
Additionally, the 8X and 9X feature Zeekr’s latest 900V electrical architecture, meaning ultra-fast 6C charging delivers a 20-80 percent charge in just nine minutes.
Both models will sit above the existing X and 7X electric SUVs in the Australian model range and locally introduce Zeekr’s EREV powertrains.
Pricing and specifications for the Australian market have not yet been confirmed, although Chinese prices for the 8X start at 376,800 yuan (A$77,142) in China, lower than the cheapest 009 at 439,000 yuan (A$89,876). Here, the 009 range starts at $115,900 before hitting the streets.
Additionally, Frank Li, Managing Director of Zeekr Australia, said Daily Sparkz Earlier this month, the 9X will be subject to the luxury car tax, meaning it will be priced above the current $91,387 threshold for “fuel efficient” vehicles.
With that in mind, you can expect the cheapest 8X to start at around $85,000 to $100,000 and the 9X to start in the $100,000 to $120,000 price range – not cheap, but a strong value proposition compared to similarly sized competitors from premium European brands given the power and electrification on offer.
The premium Chinese brand has also confirmed the introduction of the 007 GT EV Shooting Brake Wagon (likely known here as the 7GT) for an Australian launch, set to launch within the next 12 months.
Stay tuned to Daily Sparkz for the latest information on Zeekr
MORE: Zeekr 8X SUV registered for Australia
MORE: Zeekr 9X SUV, 7GT wagon confirmed for Australia
