China’s Zeekr Group (ZK) said Tuesday it will launch its first Level 3 fully-autonomous electric sports utility vehicle, as China’s automakers step up efforts in self-driving technology and send yet another shot across the bows of ailing Tesla (TSLA).
Zeekr’s 9X SUV will be equipped with H9, described as its most advanced version of the G-Pilot smart driving technology, the company said at an event on Tuesday. It will be Zeekr’s first L3 smart driving-enabled model and is set to be launched officially at the Shanghai Auto Show in April. L3 autonomy is classed as “fully autonomous.”
EV Competition in China Heats Up
The news from the Chinese luxury automaker, which is controlled by Geely Auto (GELYF), comes as the race for autonomous driving supremacy heats up, while EV makers in China are simultaneously engaged in a price war. Self-driving packages have become a major selling point for EV brands, which have had to make them more accessible to potential buyers.
Zeekr will offer advanced driver-assistance capabilities to Chinese customers for free, CEO Andy An told CNBC ahead of the launch event Tuesday.
BYD (BYDDF) recently announced it would offer an autopilot system in all its cars, while Tesla is offering a free trial of its Full-Self Driving (FSD) autonomous software from March 17th through April 16th.
Zeekr launched its 7X model in August last year, making it the first midsize electric SUV to compete with Tesla’s refreshed Model Y. It’s due to be launched in Europe in the second quarter of this year, at the same time as its new L3-ready model is due to go on sale.
Earlier this year Zeekr completed a deal to integrate Lynk & Co, a sister brand under Geely.
In February 2025, Zeekr Group hit 31,277 vehicle deliveries across its two brands. Of these, the Company delivered 14,039 Zeekr brand vehicles, up 87% year-over-year and an increase of 17% from the previous month. Following the completion of the Lynk & Co acquisition in February, the Company delivered 17,238 Lynk & Co brand vehicles, marking a 30.5% year-over-year growth.
What Is the Best EV Stock to Buy?
For investors interested in investing in Chinese and other EV stocks, the TipRanks Stocks Comparison Tool can be used to compare stocks in the same category. ZK gets a Smart Score of 6, which is above a number of peers, while GELYF scores 10.
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