Zeekr 7X ranks third in Australia BEV sales
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- Zeekr 7X placed third among Australia's top 10 BEVs in February, trailing only the Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion, per CleanTechnica.
- Steve Nixon paid AU$63,900 plus on-roads (roughly AU$69,000 total) for a Long Range RWD Zeekr 7X with a WLTP rating of 615 km, choosing it over the Tesla Model Y, Xpeng G6, and BYD Sealion 7.
- Nixon cross-shopped a facelifted Tesla Model Y but passed, citing a AU$10,000 price premium, another AU$10,000 for Full Self Drive, and a 'stark cabin' lacking the multiple displays and physical controls the 7X offered.
- Nixon reported two phantom-braking incidents in the Zeekr's camera-based cruise control, where stationary vehicles turning right at lights triggered deceleration from 60 kph to roughly 30 kph before the system recovered and re-accelerated.
- Nixon placed his order within the first 1,000, unlocking free upgrades including an extra two years of manufacturer warranty, a 10-year battery warranty, and three years of complimentary charging at Zeekr Kedron or Fortitude Valley.
- Nixon charges mostly from rooftop solar between 1100 and 1600 when wholesale prices dip below 10c/kWh, spending AU$2–3 to take the battery from 50% to 80% at 22 kW, and paid AU$2,000 on average for each of his aging Mercedes GLC250d's annual services, including a final AU$8,000 air suspension repair.
- Zeekr, part of the Geely family, is one of several Chinese brands gaining Australian ground; the Xpeng G6 Nixon initially ordered was delayed from a Q4 2025 facelift to Q1 2026 and 'is still not here.'
Why it matters: A Geely-family BEV cracking Australia's top three sales behind Tesla and BYD shows Chinese brands are no longer fringe options in the local market. The owner's switch was driven by real cost math — roughly AU$2,000 yearly Mercedes servicing capped by an AU$8,000 air suspension bill — and by a sub-AU$70,000 price point that undercut comparable German EVs (Mercedes EVs started above AU$100,000). Cross-shopping details reveal tangible trade-offs buyers accept: phantom-braking incidents and flaky Apple connectivity against acceleration, styling, and a strong warranty package.
