In a landmark achievement for China's ultra-luxury EV segment, Hongmeng Zhixing's Zeekr S800 (尊界S800) has surpassed 10,000 cumulative deliveries just 202 days after its May 30, 2025 launch, setting a new record. This surge underscores the booming demand for premium Chinese electric vehicles priced between 70.8-101.8 million RMB. Meanwhile, corporate moves like SAIC's equity simplification for IM Motors and Geely's completion of Zeekr privatization signal strategic consolidation, while Tesla's FSD V14.2.2 update hints at intensifying autonomous driving competition.
Zeekr S800 Shatters Records in Ultra-Luxury EV Market
The Zeekr S800's rapid success highlights the strength of Chinese brands in the high-end EV space:
- Listing Milestones:
- 1 hour: 1,000 firm orders
- 24 hours: 1,600 orders
- 3 days: 2,600 orders
- 19 days: 5,000 orders
- 30 days: 6,500 orders
- 50 days: 8,000 orders
- 67 days: 10,000 orders
- 175 days (Nov 20): 18,000 orders
Priced as a flagship sedan rivaling global luxury marques, the S800's performance eclipses previous benchmarks in China's super-luxury新能源轿车 category, driven by advanced HarmonyOS integration and superior build quality.
Strategic Moves: SAIC Simplifies IM Motors Ownership, Geely Privatizes Zeekr
Chinese automakers are streamlining operations amid fierce EV competition:
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SAIC Group: Announced plans to directly hold IM Motors (智己汽车) equity via a 539.9 billion RMB allocation from Yuanjie Fund (元界基金), simplifying a structure backed by 72 billion RMB investment. This positions SAIC for agile decision-making in the premium智行EV market.
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Geely Auto: Completed Zeekr (极氪) privatization on December 22, 2025, acquiring all shares and delisting from NYSE. As a full subsidiary, Zeekr gains flexibility to accelerate innovations like its upcoming MIX models without public market pressures.
These shifts reflect a trend toward vertical integration, enhancing R&D in battery tech and autonomous driving.
Upcoming Stars: Hongmeng Zhixing's ZEEKR V9 MPV Revealed
Building on S800 momentum, Hongmeng Zhixing unveiled the ZEEKR V9 (智界V9), a massive MPV over 5.3 meters long, poised to redefine luxury people-movers:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Design | Family-style LED lights, no traditional grille; hidden electric doors, starlit taillights |
| Seating | 2+2+3 seven-seater with zero-gravity rotating chairs; full fold-flat capability |
| Safety | Industry-first "Helmet Airbag" (HAB) in "Huanwing" system; auto-upright seats on crash |
| Tech | Tri-screen cockpit, rear entertainment, oxygen generator, constant-cool fridge; LiDAR suite |
| Price | ~500,000 RMB; rivals Lexus LM, Ideal MEGA |
Slated for 2026 launch, V9 abandons "Alphard-style" aesthetics for pure EV luxury.
Tesla FSD V14.2.2: Boost for Chinese EV Autonomy Race
Tesla's December 23, 2025 update to FSD V14.2.2 (2025.45.5) introduces features pressuring domestic players like XPeng and NIO:
- Arrival Options for context-aware parking
- Customizable Speed Profiles
- Enhanced visual NN for emergency vehicles, barriers, gestures
- Brake Confirm toggle
This evolution could accelerate adoption of L2+ systems in China, where firms like BYD and Li Auto are ramping up.
Why This Matters: Global Implications for Chinese EVs
These developments spotlight China's EV dominance: Zeekr's sales record proves premium demand, while privatizations enable bold bets on AI-driven autonomy and battery tech. Globally, they challenge Tesla and legacy lux brands, with exports surging amid US-EU tariffs. ByteDance's 160 billion RMB AI push (half on chips) indirectly fuels EV ecosystems via cloud services like Volcano Engine, nearing Google's token usage.
Looking Ahead
Expect Zeekr V9 to debut mid-2026, IM Motors to leverage direct SAIC funding for next-gen platforms, and heightened FSD-like competition. Amid quality hiccups like Dongfeng Xinghai V9's disputed 200km pure EV range (real-world ~70km), brands must prioritize transparency. China's EV market—projected 10M+ units in 2026—remains the global bellwether.
