As first 001 FR supercars roll off production line Zeekr signs Kimi Raikkonen to promote them

Zeekr - the luxury electric vehicle arm of the Geely Holding Group - is about to unveil its latest addition, the Zeekr 001 FR (Future Road). And three days before its grand reveal, this electric supercar has already begun its journey off the assembly lines.

Zeekr's new ride promises a gut-wrenching 1,265 horsepower, making Tesla Model S Plaid's 1,020 horsepower look like a leisurely stroll in the park. The Zeekr 001 FR claims to shoot from a standstill to 62 mph in a mere 2.07 seconds.

The official launch of this electric supercar is penciled in for October 27 at 19:30 Beijing time. Fingers crossed for a dramatic unveiling without the backdrop of shattered windows (ahem, Tesla Cybertruck).

Besides the sneak peek at the Ningbo-based production facility and a video showcasing the assembly lines, not much else has been let out of the bag The 001 FR is slated for a limited production run of 99 units per month.

A word from Zeekr's August 10 preview suggests it'll be north of 1 million yuan ($137,000). We'll know the exact number in a few days

Meanwhile Zeekr is rolling in the big guns when it comes to endorsements. Formula One Champion and overall racing legend Kimi Raikkonen has been signed as chief performance advisor. He'll be present at the launch of the Zeekr 001 FR.

A brief history lesson for those unfamiliar with the brand. Launched as an independent entity in March 2021, the regular Zeekr 001 made its grand entrance on April 17, 2021, with deliveries kicking off in October 2021. As of now, car enthusiasts have four versions of the Zeekr 001 to pick from, priced between RMB 269,000 and RMB 349,000 ($36,800 and $47,800 respectively). Not to mention, they've been rather busy, having launched the Zeekr 009 MPV and Zeekr X urban SUV.

While the electric vehicle market is booming, Zeekr seems to be holding its own. The firm delivered 12,053 vehicles in September, marking a hefty 45.64% year-on-year surge, after a slight dip from August.

In the grand scheme of things, from January to September, Zeekr's cumulative deliveries amounted to 79,028 units. That's a rise of over 100% from the previous year's 39,474 units during the same timeframe.

Via