ZEEKR to display ‘heavyweight’ EVs at CES 2025, plus unveil new tech and global market strategy
Chinese EV automaker ZEEKR is returning to Las Vegas this January to showcase its EV technology in the US during the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). ZEEKR intends to showcase three of its most popular all-electric models before unveiling some new core technologies and discussing its plans for the global EV market.
January 2025 will mark ZEEKR’s third consecutive participation in the annual CES event, which is notable considering the company was founded less than four years ago.
At CES 2023, ZEEKR made its public debut in the US, showcasing its flagship 001 shooting brake and a purpose-built EV designed for robotaxi network Waymo, which we saw up close later that fall. During last year’s event, ZEEKR showcased its 007, which had just launched in China days before. It offers a 540-mile range and a starting price below $30,000.
Since then, ZEEKR has had a truly busy 2024. We’ve seen the company launch two new EV models in China, one of which will be displayed at CES next month. ZEEKR has also expanded sales into new European markets and entered North America for the first time, launching its 001 and X EVs in Mexico.
This year, we also saw ZEEKR debut some new technologies, such as its “golden” LFP batteries designed in-house that can recharge from 10-80% in 10.5 minutes. Following its announcement that it will participate at CES for a third straight year, ZEEKR also teased some additional technology it intends to unveil.
ZEEKR to display 001 FR, 009 Grand, and MIX EVs at CES
So far, ZEEKR is the only Chinese EV automaker to confirm its presence at CES 2025 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and is bringing with it three popular models. Per the company, its display booth will enable visitors to see three of its “heavyweight” EV models up close: The 001 FR shooting brake, the 009 Grand MPV, and the new MIX compact MPV, which launched in October. Per the company:
At this CES, ZEEKR will showcase leading technology to the global market for the first time, truly achieving full stack self-developed and global sharing. Only by understanding the different needs of local markets with a global perspective can we create highly differentiated and internationally competitive products.
As hinted above, much of the technology that will be unveiled at CES is an effort to enable ZEEKR’s continued global expansion. The automaker has already entered 40 countries and regions outside of China, including Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Latin America. Zeekr has opened 500 stores worldwide, including 53 outside of mainland China. Per the press release:
Under the new energy wave of the automotive industry and the trend of Chinese automobiles going global, Zeekr has achieved value output and market expansion through technological innovation and product upgrades, not only occupying a place in the global automotive market competition, but also becoming a new business card for the rise of China’s automotive industry and the upward development of Chinese automotive brands. At the highly anticipated CES 2025, ZEEKR will once again refresh the travel experience of global users with China’s automotive innovative technology. Please stay tuned for more exciting content.
CES 2025 will take place in Las Vegas from January 7 to 10, and ZEEKR intends to host a press conference and panel discussion on January 6 and January 7 to unveil some of the tech teased above.
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Environment
U.S. crude oil falls below $60 a barrel to lowest since 2021 on tariff-fueled recession fears
A view shows disused oil pump jacks at the Airankol oil field operated by Caspiy Neft in the Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan April 2, 2025.
Pavel Mikheyev | Reuters
U.S. oil prices dropped below $60 a barrel on Sunday on fears President Donald Trump’s global tariffs would push the U.S., and maybe the world, into a recession.
Futures tied to U.S. West Texas intermediate crude fell more than 3% to $59.74 on Sunday night. The move comes after back-to-back 6% declines last week. WTI is now at the lowest since April 2021.
Worries are mounting that tariffs could lead to higher prices for businesses, which could lead to a slowdown in economic activity that would ultimately hurt demand for oil.
Oil futures, 5 years
The tariffs, which are set to take effect this week, “would likely push the U.S. and possibly global economy into recession this year,” according to JPMorgan. The firm on Thursday raised its odds of a recession this year to 60% following the tariff rollout, up from 40%.
Fueled by incentives from the Illinois EPA and the state’s largest utility company, new EV registrations nearly quadrupled the 12% first-quarter increase in EV registrations nationally – and there are no signs the state is slowing down.
Despite the dramatic slowdown of Tesla’s US deliveries, sales of electric vehicles overall have perked up in recent months, with Illinois’ EV adoption rate well above the Q1 uptick nationally. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the number of new EVs registered across the state totaled 9,821 January through March, compared with “just” 6,535 EVs registered in the state during the same period in 2024.
Those numbers represent more than 50% growth in EV registrations – far beyond the expected 12% first-quarter increase nationally being projected by Cox Automotive. (!)
What’s going on in Illinois?
While President Trump and Elmo were running for re-election, they campaigned on the threat promise of canceling the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs. Along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois’ Governor JB Pritzker made countermoves – launching a $4,000 rebate for new electric cars and up to $1,500 for the purchase of a new electric motorcycle.
At the same time, the state’s largest utility, ComEd, launched a $90 million EV incentive program featuring a new Point of Purchase initiative to deliver instant discounts to qualifying business and public sector customers who make the switch to electric vehicles. That program has driven a surge in Class 3-6 medium duty commercial EVs, which are eligible fro $20-30,000 in utility rebates on top of federal tax credits and other incentives (Class 1-2 EVs are eligible for up to $7,500).
We covered the launch of those incentives when the program was announced at Chicago Drives Electric last year, but the message here is simple: incentives work.
SOURCES: Chicago Business, Ray Cunningham; featured image by the author.
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The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.
Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.
XCMG is delivering on part of that reduced downtime promise with the lower maintenance and easier repair needs of electric equipment, and delivering on the rest of it with lickety-quick DC fast charging that can recharge the machine’s massive battery in 1.5-2 hours … but that’s not the slick bit. The XCMG XE125EV can be powered up without leaving the job site thanks to its BYD battery swap technology.
We first covered XCMG and its battery swap technology back in January, and covered similar battery-swap tech being developed by MOOG Construction offshoot ZQUIP, as well – but while XCMG’s battery tech has been in production for several years, it’s still not widely known about in the West (even within the industry).
XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?
Easy in, easy out
The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.
You can check out all the XE215EV’s specs at this tear sheet, and get an in-person look at the Chinese company’s latest electric excavator this week in Munich, Germany.
SOURCE | IMAGES: XCMG.
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