Zeekr, Geely Auto’s premium EV brand, has unveiled its first plug-in hybrid SUV, the 9X, as part of its product expansion in China.

The 9X will use the Freevoy Super Hybrid battery from CATL, providing a driving range of 380 kilometers.

Priced at around 600,000 yuan (US$83,562), it is reportedly the first hybrid vehicle to use a 900-volt electrical system.

This system enables nearly 220 kilometers of range after just nine minutes of charging.

Hybrids made up nearly half of China’s EV sales last year, offering a cheaper, range-anxiety-free alternative to attery electric vehicles (BEVs) despite being less eco-friendly.

Geely Auto is investing in both electric and gasoline cars, with CEO Gui Shengyue citing the need to sustain gas-powered production for profits.

Despite rising EV demand, only three Chinese EV brands are profitable, and analysts expect most of the country’s 129 EV brands to remain unprofitable by 2030.

🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ China’s decades-long EV strategy now evolving from pure EVs to hybrids

Zeekr’s pivot to hybrids represents the latest chapter in China’s 30-year electric vehicle development plan that began in the mid-1990s.

The country’s EV journey started with formal government programs like NEVEDA in 1995 and the “863 EV Project” in 2001, which established testing facilities and provided billions in funding for electric vehicle technology12.

By 2008, China had already invested over RMB 2 billion in new energy vehicle development, with pilot programs in 13 cities and significant subsidies for early EV adopters1.

The market has significantly evolved over time. While pure battery electric vehicles dominated with 80% of EV sales in 2020-2021, hybrids have rapidly gained ground, accounting for nearly half of EV sales by mid-2023 as consumers seek more affordable options3.

This transition reflects China’s pragmatic approach to transportation electrification, with manufacturers like Zeekr responding to consumer concerns about range and price while maintaining compliance with increasingly strict government mandates.

2️⃣ The hybrid strategy serves multiple competitive advantages in a saturated market