Zeekr 9X hybrid locked in for Australia

Zeekr has confirmed its flagship 9X plug-in hybrid SUV for Australia, the upper-large luxury model almost certain to arrive locally in late 2026 as part of the brand’s rapid local expansion. However, the onion in the ointment that may push its arrival into early 2027 is that the car has already accumulated 50,000 orders since launching in China back in late 2025.

Zeekr 9X confirmed as brand’s first hybrid for Australia
Six-seat upper-large SUV measuring 5.2 metres in length
Plug-in hybrid with up to 1030kW and 1410Nm in tri-motor form
Up to 380km electric-only range (CLTC) and more than 1250km total range
Already one of China's top-selling ultra-luxury SUVs with 50,000 sales

The Zeekr 9X will headline the luxury Chinese brand’s continuing expansion in Australia, leading a three-model rollout scheduled across roughly 18 months.

Positioned as the brand’s flagship, the Zeekr 9X is a six-seat luxury SUV riding on Zeekr’s new SEA-S architecture, best described as a hybrid platform built on pure-electric foundations.

The cut-price Rolls-Royce Cullinan has been a massive success in its domestic market of China, Zeekr this week confirming via a Weibo post it has officially reached 50,000 units.

With close ties to sister brand Volvo, the new Zeekr 9X is big, measuring 5.2 metres long positioned firmly in the upper-large SUV segment, with styling that leans heavily into ultra-premium territory.

A tall, upright grille, squared-off proportions and 22-inch alloy wheels give it a visual presence more akin to a Rolls-Royce Cullinan or Bentley Bentayga than a traditional mainstream rival.

Inside, the focus is on six-seat luxury, targeting buyers who would typically shop established European marques at significantly higher price points.

Powertrain options are equally ambitious. Two versions of the 9X offer dual- and tri-e-motor configurations, paired with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

Outputs climb as high as 1030kW and 1410Nm in the tri-motor variant, which is capable of a claimed 0–100km/h sprint in just 3.1 seconds.

The platform is underpinned by a 900-volt electrical architecture, a step beyond the 400-volt and even 800-volt systems common in hybrids.

Buyers can choose between 55kWh and 70kWh battery packs, which are similar in size to some EVs, let alone plug-in hybrids.

Zeekr quotes up to 380 kilometres of electric-only driving range on the Chinese CLTC cycle, which will be around 300km using the WLTP measurements favoured in Australia.

Total combined range is claimed to exceed 1250 kilometres.

Fast-charging capability allows a 10–80 per cent recharge in around 10 minutes thanks to its 900-volt electrical architecture.

The 9X will be joined by two additional models in Australia: the 7GT electric wagon, due in the first half of 2027, and the 8X plug-in hybrid SUV, expected later that year.

Zeekr’s aggressive rollout underscores its ambitions in Australia, following a strong early demand for the 7X SUV – of which 70 per cent of buyers are choosing the top-spec circa-$80,000 Performance AWD version.

The arrival of the 9X signals a shift in positioning for the Geely-backed brand, moving beyond value-focused EV offerings into the upper echelons of the luxury market.

Final Australian specifications and pricing are yet to be confirmed, though the Zeekr 9X is expected to sit above the Luxury Car Tax threshold and compete directly with established European luxury SUVs. As such, expect starting prices of around $120,000 or more.

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