The Zeekr EX1E electric SUV from Geely was partly revealed in patent images. Its rear end shows the split tailgate and sheds light on the exterior of the brand’s seventh model. The Zeekr EX1E’s styling appears to be quite close to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
Zeekr is a high-end EV brand under the Geely Group, launched in 2021. Its current model line comprises four models: 001 liftback, 009 minivan, X crossover, and 007 sedan. Zeekr raised 441 million USD on a New York IPO earlier this year. In 2024, the Geely-baked brand plans to launch two cars: Mix MPV and Ark SUV. Next year, three more models will hit the domestic market. One of them is the EX1E SUV. It was partly revealed in patent images.
More about Zeekr EX1E SUV
Previously, there was no information about the upcoming Zeekr EX1E crossover. However, CarNewsChina guessed the codename of this vehicle refers to its size class. It means the EX1E is the Zeekr’s upcoming full-size flagship SUV.
On June 28, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released patent information from Zhejiang Zeekr Technology Co., Ltd. This patent protects the tailgate design of an unknown Zeekr’s future car. It shows the rear end of the vehicle, which is considered to be the brand’s flagship SUV. So, Chinese sources reported it is patent images of the EX1E crossover.
The Zeekr EX1E SUV has a flat roofline with a large sunroof, slanted D-pillars, and plastic trim around wheel arches. It has a roof spoiler, a charging port in the left fender, and trapeze-shaped independent taillight units that look quite similar to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The tailgate of the EX1E also suspiciously stays close to the RR car. It has a split design. The lower section can be folded down, while the upper section opens upward. According to the patent filing, these parts both are power operated.
Interestingly, the styling of the Zeekr EX1E doesn’t follow the brand’s current design language called Hidden Energy. It looks like Zeekr wants to emphasize the EX1E’s status by giving it a unique look. The EX1E crossover is likely to use the SEA architecture. It will enter China next year to rival cars from Legacy brands.
Source: CNIPA, Weibo
It doesn’t look like Cullinan it looks like Cadillac Escalade IQ. Pretty sad that Chinese carmakers with their unlimited budget always trying to steal designs from western car makers.