Will Zeekr 001 disappear in 2026? Company responds to viral replacement rumour
Rumours have spread widely online suggesting that the Zeekr 001 will be replaced by a new model under a different name in 2026. The discussion, which began on Chinese social media and auto forums, gained traction among Zeekr owners and EV enthusiasts, prompting the company to respond.
On October 15, Zeekr issued an official statement through its “Zeekr 001 Q&A (Part 3)” update, addressing the speculation directly, as reported by IT-Home. The company clarified that there are no plans for either a product replacement or renaming of the Zeekr 001 in 2026. Instead, Zeekr emphasised that the current refreshed 001, launched on October 11, will continue as the brand’s core model for an extended period.
According to the statement, the latest Zeekr 001 brings major updates across powertrain, chassis, safety, driver assistance, and intelligent cabin systems while maintaining the brand’s shooting brake design and interior space advantage. The company noted that any future changes will come in the form of regular OTA software updates or optional equipment adjustments, depending on user needs and market conditions.
The Zeekr 001, introduced in 2021 as the brand’s first model, has since expanded to more than 40 countries and regions, with global deliveries exceeding 300,000 units. Zeekr said it will continue refining the 001 series as a long-term entry in the luxury electric segment.
The current 2026 Zeekr 001 lineup is built on a 900V high-voltage platform and offers up to 810 km CLTC range. The dual-motor version produces 925 horsepower, accelerating from 0–100 km/h in 2.83 seconds and reaching a top speed of 280 km/h. All models come with lidar, Nvidia’s Thor-U chip providing 700 TOPS of computing power, and Zeekr’s H7 driver assistance suite.
In China, prices start at 269,800 yuan (37,000 USD) for the 95 kWh dual-motor Max version, rising to 329,800 yuan (45,200 USD) for the 103 kWh Ultra+ trim.
