zeekr 001 review from an industry insider’s notebook

China’s premium EV space moves fast—sometimes dizzyingly so—and the zeekr 001 has become a reference point I keep coming back to. It’s that long-roof shooting brake that quietly upended expectations around range, charging speeds, and chassis tuning. To be honest, I didn’t expect such a polished blend of performance and practicality this early in the cycle.

Where it sits in today’s EV market

Trends first: 800V-capable architectures, cell-to-pack (CTP) designs, and high-nickel or LFP chemistries are maturing fast. The zeekr 001, built on Geely’s SEA platform, leans into this with big-battery options (including CATL’s Qilin pack on select trims), over-the-air software, and fast DC charging. Many customers say it feels “European” in ride and cabin finish, but with the efficiency we’ve come to expect from China’s supply chain muscle.

Key specifications (engineering snapshot)

Actually, on the road, what stands out is calibration: pedal mapping and damping that don’t scream “prototype,” which, surprisingly, some rivals still do.

Materials, manufacturing flow, and testing

• Body: mixed high-strength steels with aluminum closures; structural adhesives for rigidity.
• Battery pack: CTP layout, liquid thermal management; cells validated under UN 38.3 and GB/T 31467 series.
• Process flow: stamping → BIW welding → e-coat/paint → battery pack assembly → marriage → EOL dyno → water-leak + HV isolation tests → software flash.
• Standards: GB/T 18384 (EV safety), ECE R100 (export variants), ISO 26262 (functional safety). Cybersecurity aims at UN R155/R156 compliance.
• Service life: pack cycle life ≈1,500+ cycles; typical warranty horizons 8 yrs/≈160–200k km (market-dependent).
• Industries using it: retail customers, premium ride-hailing, executive fleets.

Usage scenarios, customization, and feedback

School runs and long highway slogs are the easy bits; the zeekr 001 shines when you pile in luggage and still want composure. Options I’d tick: adaptive air suspension, heat pump for cold climates, and the higher-rate DC charging module if your corridor supports it. Many owners report the cabin NVH as “quieter than expected,” while a few note software UX quirks that, to be fair, tend to be smoothed out via OTAs.

Real-world case note

One Hangzhou corporate fleet told me their first-year TCO for a 001-based pool dropped ≈15% versus their outgoing ICE crossovers, mainly on energy and maintenance. Uptime was high—north of 99%—after they standardized DC charging windows. Sure, sample size matters, but it tracks with what we see across high-utilization EVs.

Vendor comparison (quick glance)

Values are indicative; trim, conditions, and test cycles differ. Real-world use may vary.

Certifications and compliance

China-market vehicles carry CCC; battery transport follows UN 38.3; safety aligns with GB/T 18384 and 31467 series, with export variants pursuing ECE R100. Software and OTA security increasingly reference UN R155/R156. That’s the boring stuff, I guess, but it matters for residual value and fleet approvals.

References

1. UNECE R100, R155, R156 – Electric safety and cybersecurity frameworks
2. ISO 26262:2018 – Road vehicles functional safety
3. UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Section 38.3 – Lithium battery transport
4. CATARC – CLTC test cycle methodology (China)
5. MIIT China – EV safety GB/T 18384 and battery GB/T 31467 series
6. CATL technical notes on CTP/Qilin battery systems