Tesla’s Model Y better buckles up as a new entrant is seeking to demolish its global market share. A Chinese firm developing electric vehicles announced last week that it would unveil its first SUV in September. Few fully electric car brands perform as well as Tesla in the global EV market, but Zeekr is about to take on the Pathfinder with cheaper alternatives.
Zeekr has announced that its midsize SUV, the Zeekr 7x, will go for 239,900 yuan ($33,829) after its September 20 launch. That price is more than $1,400 cheaper than the average Tesla Model Y for sale.
China has recently been aggressively pursuing the EV market, and Zeekr is its next step in owning that market. Zeekr will launch the 7X in China but intends to commence global shipping by year’s end.
The Zeekr 7X is a five-seater with two battery module options. On a full charge, one option allows drivers to travel a range of 780 kilometers (485 miles), while the other can only go 605 kilometers (376 miles). The 7X’s battery module supports fast charging technology and can go from 10% to 80% in roughly 11 minutes. The Chinese EV company boasts that its new EV outranks the Tesla Model Y on multiple metrics.
Are Chinese EV Makers Better Than Tesla?
According to Zeekr engineers, the 7X has many selling points that make it leave the Tesla Model Y in the dust:
Zeekr batteries charge faster than Tesla:
Zeekr engineers say the 11-minute charge of their self-designed battery modules beats that of Tesla’s Model Y. Meanwhile, Tesla’s website suggests that the company’s supercharger can take Model 3 to 48% of a full charge in 15 minutes.
Zeekr 7X is cheaper than the Tesla Model Y:
Since Tesla moved shop to China, its cars have become the best-selling electric vehicles in the country. The Tesla Model Y price is 249,900 yuan ($35,240) in China. However, Zeekr is rolling out the 7X for only $33,829.
In what turned out to be a massive price war, other Chinese EV companies have since released vehicles that are way cheaper than Tesla’s. For example, Xpeng now has the Mona M03 selling in China for as cheap as $17,000. Another Chinese company, Nio, launched Onvo in May, and it sells for $4,000 less than Tesla’s Model Y. Xiaomi also released the SU7 in March and pegged its price at $30,408. The SU7 is set to rival the $34,676 Tesla Model 3.
The 7x accelerates faster than the Tesla Model Y:
Like the Zeekr 7X, the Tesla Model Y is also a five-seater vehicle. However, Zeekr engineers boast that the 7X accelerates faster than its Tesla variant, going from 0 to 62 miles per hour in just 3.8 seconds. According to MotorTrend, it would take Tesla’s Model Y 4.4 seconds to achieve the same feat.
ALSO READ: Tesla’s Stock Price Declines Amid 2024 Struggles
How Expensive is a Model Y?
In the US, the price for a Tesla Model Y falls between $44,490 and $51,490. The price variation on the same Tesla model boils down to options that come with the car. For example, there are three options for the Tesla Model Y, the cheapest being the rear-wheel drive.
The four-wheel variant of the Model Y costs $47,990, while the Performance option costs $51,490. In early 2023, Tesla started an initiative to make its brand affordable to a broader spectrum of EV lovers. So, the company started marking down prices on its Model Y and Model 3.
When Is Zeekr Launching Zeekr 7X?
Zeekr’s first SUV, the 7X, was unveiled at the Chengdu auto show on August 30. However, the sleek and new electric vehicle is not due for its official launch until September 20.
What Are the Features Zeekr 7X Has?
Zeekr 7X is an all-electric family SUV, accentuated by its fifth passenger seat. The exterior of the vehicle was designed with energy conservation in mind. The dimensions of the 7X SUV are based on Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA). It has a wheelbase of 2.925 meters, a maximum height of 1.656 meters, and a length of 4.825 meters.
The 7X runs on a silicon carbide motor, which facilitates its rapid acceleration. It also enjoys a fast-charging experience on its lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery because it runs on the 800 V high-voltage platform, while conventional EVs run on the 400 V platform models.
ALSO READ: Zeekr, Chinese EV Maker, Claims Its New Battery Outpaces Tesla in Charging Speed
How Much Is Model Y in Germany?
In response to the price wars against its brand, particularly in Asia, Tesla’s Model Y now sells for 48,990 euros in Germany. A used Tesla Model Y also sells for close to that amount. The US EV maker chose to slash the price of its cars in Europe in a bid to target global market share and not lose out to emerging Chinese EV brands.
Tesla commenced its Europe price cuts in January and has reduced the price of the 2024 Tesla Model Y Long Range, Model Y Performance, and its rear-wheel drive by 9%, 8.1%, and 4.2%, respectively.
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