SK On Takes Delivery Of Zeekr 7X

SK On became the first customer of the Zeekr 7X, the SUV electric vehicle of China’s Geely Automobile Group, which has entered Korea. (Photo provided by Zeekr Korea) Zeekr, the luxury electric vehicle brand of China’s Geely Automobile Group, has begun full-scale customer deliveries in South Korea of its midsize SUV, the Zeekr 7X, stepping up its push into the Korean market. Zeekr and SK On held a ceremony for the delivery of the first Zeekr 7X vehicle on on Oct. 21 at the Zeekr Gangnam flagship store. It marked the first delivery just four months after the company announced its entry into the Korean market in June. SK On, the recipient of the first vehicle, plans to use it for business purposes while also giving employees an opportunity to experience it firsthand. The vehicle delivered to SK On is the top-tier "Ultra" trim. It is equipped with a 100kWh NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese) battery, and dual motors mounted on the front and rear wheels deliver a maximum output of 645 horsepower and peak torque of 72.4kg·m. It takes just 3.9 seconds to accelerate from a standstill to 100km/h, and it can travel 440km on a single charge under certification standards set by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. The Zeekr 7X offers three options depending on battery capacity and drivetrain configuration. The "Pro" trim, fitted with a 75kWh LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery, can travel 375km on a single charge, while the "Max" trim, which uses a 100kWh NCM battery, secures a maximum driving range of 483km. Both trims are equipped with a rear-wheel single motor, producing a maximum output of 421 horsepower and peak torque of 45kg·m. The industry is paying attention to the fact that SK On, a Korean battery company, became the first customer for a Chinese brand vehicle in Korea. The Zeekr 7X is known to be equipped with a battery from China’s CATL, but SK On already has a cooperative relationship with the Geely Group. In November 2023, SK On signed a contract to supply battery modules for the Polestar 5, a model of Polestar under the Geely Group. Some observers say the purchase could be the starting signal for a new battery supply agreement between the two companies. On that, an SK On official drew a line, saying, "Geely Automobile is an important partner, but this first-vehicle purchase has nothing to do with a new battery supply contract." Zeekr is also speeding up the expansion of its service network to establish itself in the Korean market. It plans to increase the number of stores to 14 in major locations nationwide, including Seoul, within the year, and to build 11 service centers across the country, including on Jeju Island. A Zeekr representative said, "We are pleased to deliver the 7X, which condenses Zeekr’s technology and sensibility, to Korean consumers," emphasizing the expansion of the brand experience.