We got a rare opportunity to drive on public roads in China and tested out a bunch of ZEEKR EVs [Video]

Published

4 months ago

May 1, 2025

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Seth and I recently traveled to China to attend the Shanghai Auto Show and used the opportunity to travel to Hangzhou with ZEEKR and test drive most of the automaker’s EVs. Even better, ZEEKR helped us acquire temporary driver’s permits in China, enabling us to test EVs like the new 007 GT on public roads. Read on and check out my full video below

We finally made it to China with the help of ZEEKR

ZEEKR is a Chinese automaker that is no stranger to Electrek’s homepage on a near-weekly basis. The Geely-owned BEV subsidiary was founded just over four years ago, and it has made huge strides in EV development across its native China as well as expanding availability of ZEEKR EVs to customers in Europe.

Since I personally cover much of the Chinese BEV scene, I finally got my chance to fly overseas and attend the Shanghai Auto Show—one of the more prominent events in China each year. I brought Electrek’s founder, Seth Weintraub, along with me to Shanghai, where we saw a slew of exciting new EV models in China, including an up-close look at all of ZEEKR’s models on the showroom floor.

After the show, ZEEKR took us a couple of hours southwest to its home in Hangzhou. There, we got to tour ZEEKR’s massive headquarters and see a robotic charging demonstration. Better still, Geely and ZEEKR arranged a test drive day for us. They also helped facilitate temporary driver’s permits in China so we could experience all its technology on public roads.

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ZEEKR showcased its growing lineup of impressive EVs

To start our test drive day, ZEEKR set up a showcase in a large parking lot in Hangzhou, outside the city center where it is headquartered. The automaker, alongside fellow Geely sibling Lynk & Co., had a slew of BEVs on display, including the new ZEEKR MIX, which should make its way to the US in the form of a LiDAR equipped variant for Waymo, as well as the ultra-plush 009 MPV (see images above).

To begin, we took off on a test drive on public roads in China that included four vehicles – two from ZEEKR and two from Lynk & Co. We started in the brand new 007 GT, which was launched in China in mid-April, so we were one of the first media outlets to test it out.

Of all the vehicles I tested that day, the 007 GT was my favorite. It’s a sleek sedan complemented by a sporty interior (red leather in the version we drove) and has some impressive specs to boot. As reported last month, ZEEKR describes its 007 GT as “the EV that does everything.” It’s 800V SEA platform (from Geely) enables DC fast charging in a blistering 10.5 minutes when housing a standard 75 kWh pack with LFP cells. That variant delivers up to 650 km (404 miles) CLTC range, but there’s also a 100 kWh NMC pack that can offer up to 825 km CLTC range. That’s 513 miles.

My first impression was how smooth and quiet the ride was, especially for a BEV that can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/hr (0 to 62 mph) in 2.95 seconds. It’s not the loudest design from an exterior standpoint, but this ZEEKR model is sneaky fast while offering a premium feel inside.

When driving around China, Seth and I were both thoroughly impressed by the overall handling and response of the ZEEKR EVs, including the 007 GT and the 7X seen below.

Driving ZEEKR EVs around public roads in China

After the 007 GT, we moved over to the ZEEKR 7X, which hit the market in China last year. This sporty crossover is surprisingly roomy inside and handles nimbly like a smaller BEV. Seth and I were blown away by the technology in both models, especially the head-up display.

Not only does the HUD show your current speed and navigation, but it also projects other vehicles and objects around you in real time. We are used to this feature in Teslas and Rivians, but has never seen it on a HUD before. Well done ZEEKR, that’s an excellent touch.

ZEEKR has a voice command system that can perform hands-free tasks like rolling the windows up or down, which we tested out in the video below. While my heart is with the 007 GT, the ZEEKR 7X was a close second, and I’m throughly jealous that drivers in China have access to these models and I don’t.

, in my opinion, but the 900 was a work of art. Seth was especially enthralled by that model and wrote a full review of his own, whichWe also drove the Lynk & Co. V20 and 900 BEVs. The V20 was pretty basic inside and out in my opinio, but the 900 was a work of art. Seth was especially enthralled by that model and did a full review of his own you can check out here.

Overall, after visiting the Shanghai Auto Show and driving a bunch of ZEEKR EVs on the road and track in China, our consensus was that native automakers over there are leaps ahead of the US and Europe. The tech is better, the charging is better, and companies like ZEEKR are able to deliver premium BEVs with outstanding range at prices US consumers have yet to see—at least not from a “bang for your buck” standpoint.

It was an excellent opportunity to get behind the wheel of some of the models from China that we cover regularly. Whether ZEEKR or other foreign automakers make their way to the US, the advancements they have made overseas offer an exciting glimpse of the future of electric mobility.

As promised, here’s some of our drive footage from China. Let us know what you think!

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Environment

Why a landmark ruling from the world’s top court puts financial markets on notice

Published

9 hours ago

August 15, 2025

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Why a landmark ruling from the world’s top court puts financial markets on notice

Vanuatu’s Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu (C) delivers a speech as he attends a demonstration ahead of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) session tasked with issuing the first Advisory Opinion (AO) on States’ legal obligations to address climate change, in The Hague on July 23, 2025.

John Thys | Afp | Getty Images

Gripped by corporate earnings season and U.S. President Donald Trump‘s back-and-forth tariff policy, investors largely shrugged off a historic climate ruling from the world’s top court.

But for some, the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) recent advisory opinion on state’s legal obligations in the face of climate change could emerge as a watershed moment for financial markets.

Günther Thallinger, a board member at Allianz, one of the world’s biggest insurers, said that close watchers of the ICJ’s July 23 ruling described it as perhaps the most significant climate development since the 2015 Paris Agreement.

At the time, the pronouncement marked the ICJ’s first-ever opinion on climate change and laid out that climate action is not optional.

The court said in a unanimous ruling that governments and countries have a legal obligation to protect the environment from greenhouse gas emissions, protect present and future generations from the climate crisis and to cooperate internationally.

Notably, the ICJ also found that fossil fuel production, including licensing and subsidies, “may constitute an internationally wrongful act which is attributable to that State.”

This opinion for investors, for capital market participants, really means something.

Günther Thallinger

Board member at Allianz

The ruling, which was the brainchild of young law students in low-lying Pacific island states and championed by the government of Vanuatu, is widely expected to have far-reaching legal and political consequences.

Speaking in a personal capacity, Thallinger said that while the ICJ’s opinion is based on existing law and conventions, the ruling could yet have meaningful ramifications for a vast range of assets — whether one cares about climate change or not.

“If one takes as an investor what the International Court of Justice just said, then a revaluation of these assets needs to happen. Every prudent investor must do this now,” Thallinger told CNBC by video call.

“Even if they don’t like the discussion around climate change, even if they would say they denigrate the Court of Justice completely, they must expect that, in some countries, some governments, some courts are going to follow this opinion,” Thallinger said.

“If they follow this opinion, it has asset valuation implications, quite clearly. So, this opinion for investors, for capital market participants, really means something.”

Licensing and subsidies

On the issue of licensing and subsidies, Thallinger said the ICJ’s ruling could prove to be a significant development.

That’s because licensing and permitting for the mining sector, for example, and government subsidies for fossil fuels could be at risk following the court opinion. The burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas is the chief driver of the climate crisis.

“If subsides are unlawful, then one should expect that subsidies are somehow stopped at a certain point in time,” Thallinger said.

“Now, certain business processes live on these subsidies or at least benefit to a certain degree on these subsidies. And, as always for an investor, usually you look simply at the cashflow, and if the cashflow part is missing or all of a sudden becomes much smaller then that means another valuation,” he added.

President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Yuji Iwasawa (C) and members issue first Advisory Opinion (AO) on States’ legal obligations to address climate change, in The Hague on July 23, 2025.

John Thys | Afp | Getty Images

The U.S. and China, the world’s two biggest carbon emitters, provided a mixed response to the ICJ’s ruling.

“As always, President Trump and the entire administration is committed to putting America first and prioritizing the interests of everyday Americans,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in response to the court opinion, Reuters reported.

A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said the ruling has a “positive significance” for advancing international climate cooperation and sought to reaffirm the Asian country’s status as a developing country.

Mixed signals

Not everyone is as concerned about the ICJ’s ruling from an investor standpoint.

“I feel like the wide spectrum of views that exist in the investor community on climate change, and the action that investors are supposed to take, will probably mean that the decision is a bit of a Rorschach test,” Lindsey Stewart, director of institutional insights for Morningstar, told CNBC by video call.

“People are just going to see things that kind of confirm their existing view,” he added.

A Rorschach test refers to a psychological assessment during which a person is asked to describe what they see in a series of inkblots.

Ida Kassa Johannesen, head of commercial ESG at Saxo Bank, said the ICJ’s intervention is a non-binding advisory opinion, rather than a ruling, “and this distinction is crucial.”

Companies with significant environmental footprints, such as those in the oil and gas, mining and heavy industry sectors, are likely to face increased litigation risk, which could affect their costs, valuation and reputation, Johannesen told CNBC by email.

“As a result, investors and particular large institutional investors may begin to reallocate capital away from high-risk sectors to manage exposure to climate-related legal and reputational risks,” she added.

Saxo Bank’s Johannesen pointed out that the U.S. and China both expressed reservations about the ICJ’s opinion, emphasizing its non-binding nature and calling for flexibility in climate action.

The Trump administration also recently signed into law the U.S. president’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a package that is favorable to mining and oil and gas companies.

“All this sends mixed signals which would probably lead to fragmented market responses between the world’s 2 largest economies and the [rest of the world], slow down global regulatory convergence and ultimately limit the (short-term) impact on markets and investor behavior,” Johannesen said.

A firefighter falls on the ground while working to extinguish a wildfire in San Cibrao das Viñas, outside Ourense, northwestern Spain, on August 12, 2025.

Miguel Riopa | Afp | Getty Images

A spokesperson at ABP, one of Europe’s largest pension funds, welcomed what they billed as “the spirit” of the court’s opinion, but said they do not anticipate any short-term ramifications for financial markets.

“The ICJ’s advisory opinion sends a signal that climate inaction may constitute a breach of international law. However, given its non-binding nature, we don’t expect immediate changes in national policies or financial markets,” an ABP spokesperson told CNBC by email.

The Dutch pension fund, which doesn’t invest in fossil fuels and says it actively supports climate solutions, highlighted that Europe, for example, already has a lot of climate legislation in place.

Environment

Global EV sales hit 10.7M in 2025 – Europe surges, US stalls

Published

17 hours ago

August 14, 2025

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Global EV sales hit 10.7M in 2025 – Europe surges, US stalls

Global EV sales are still riding high, with 1.6 million EVs sold in July 2025, according to new data from global research firm Rho Motion. That’s up 21% from July last year, even though sales dipped 9% from June. It brings total EV sales for the first seven months of the year to 10.7 million – up 27% compared to the same period in 2024.

China stays on top

China continues to dominate, with 6.5 million EVs sold year-to-date, accounting for over half of all global EV sales. BEVs are still the top choice, with sales up 40% this year. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) didn’t fare as well, with domestic sales down 15% month-over-month and 10% year-over-year.

Even though Chinese EV sales dropped 13% in July from June, EVs made up over 50% of all passenger car sales for the third month in a row. The government is helping keep momentum going with another round of Q3 funding for its EV trade-in scheme, and a final 2025 round is expected in October.

Europe’s EV momentum is speeding up

Europe saw a 30% year-to-date jump in EV sales, reaching 2.3 million units. Germany and the UK are leading the pack – Germany’s up 43%, and the UK is up 32%. But France posted just a 9% year-over-year gain in July and is still down 11% for the year.

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To help turn things around, France is revamping its EV leasing program for low-income households starting September 30, aiming to support more than 50,000 purchases.

Meanwhile, Italy is the dark horse of 2025. Thanks to fresh incentives totaling around $700 million, EV sales are up 40%, and the country is quickly catching up to its neighbors. EV market share in Italy now stands at 11%, compared to 27% in Germany and over 30% in the UK.

North America stalls out except for one short-term boost

North America is lagging, with just a 2% bump in EV sales year-to-date. In the US, that’s partly due to policy uncertainty and tariffs. Automakers took a multi-billion-dollar hit in Q2, although some of that was offset by reduced requirements to buy zero-emission vehicle credits.

A spike in demand is expected in Q3, as buyers rush to take advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act’s EV tax credit before it expires on September 30, but a cooldown is then anticipated.

Some automakers are shifting their EV strategies: Ford recently announced a new “Universal EV Platform” and plans to launch a $30,000 midsize electric pickup with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries by 2027.

And on the trade front, the US has inked deals with South Korea, Japan, and the EU to impose a 15% tariff on imported cars.

The bottom line

Global EV sales are still charging ahead, even if the road is bumpy in some regions. China’s holding steady, Europe’s revving up, and North America’s waiting to see what happens next. Rho Motion data manager Charles Lester said, “Despite regional variations, the overall trajectory for EV adoption in 2025 remains strongly upward.”

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Environment

Volkswagen is making some EV owners pay extra to unlock full potential

Published

17 hours ago

August 14, 2025

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Volkswagen is making some EV owners pay extra to unlock full potential

Another monthly subscription? Some Volkswagen EV drivers will now need to pay extra to unlock their vehicle’s full potential.

Volkswagen has put performance behind a paywall, at least for ID.3 drivers in the UK. The Volkswagen ID.3 Pro and Pro S are now listed with 201 hp on the UK website.

To unlock the vehicle’s full performance of 228 hp, drivers will now need to pay extra. You can choose from a monthly subscription, starting at £16.50 ($22) per month, or you can opt for a one-time lifetime fee of £649 ($880).

However, the one-time fee is attached to the vehicle, not the buyer. So if it’s sold, the upgrade goes with it. As Auto Express pointed out, the monthly payment is nearly three times that of a standard Netflix membership.

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Although the performance upgrade locks the extra power behind a paywall, Volkswagen said it doesn’t affect range.

Volkswagen isn’t the first, and likely not the last, to make drivers pay for their vehicles’ full potential. Remember when BMW tried to charge $18 a month for heated seats and other features in 2022?

Yeah, that didn’t go over so well. BMW has since dropped the subscription. Other brands, including Polestar, offer similar performance upgrades.

Will Volkswagen try to charge EV drivers in the US or other parts of Europe extra for performance? Given the backlash from BMW, it’s not likely. We’ll see how it goes over in the UK first.

The company is gearing up to launch a new series of entry-level EVs, starting with the ID.2 next year. An SUV version of the ID.2 is scheduled to launch shortly after, followed by the production version of the ID.1, which is set to arrive in 2027. Volkswagen is also considering a “mini Buzz” that could replace the Touran, but nothing has been confirmed.

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