Geely’s premium electric vehicle (EV) brand Zeekr is reportedly planning to launch an off-road-focused SUV that would rival the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, according to a report by Future Car Daily via CarNewsChina.
The report states that Zeekr is exploring producing a boxy luxury off-road SUV that is on par with the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The Chinese EV maker is said to have started looking into the project, as it has begun matching technical requirements with its multiple suppliers.
However, the report also states that the Mercedes-Benz G-Class rival project has not yet been given an official internal codename and has yet to be formally approved. But despite having a pending go signal, Zeekr is reportedly targeting mass production of its off-road SUV somewhere between 2028 and 2029.
The proposed Zeekr off-road SUV model is said to come with a unibody platform, which is different from the traditional body-on-frame construction that is integrated into off-road SUVs. Zeekr allegedly plans to rely on electronic torque distribution and long-travel air suspension.
While the plan to produce a vehicle that could rival the G-Class is still waiting for approval, an off-road-focused Zeekr is not far off. This is because Zeekr International CEO Mars Chen reportedly said that the brand wants to introduce serious off-road vehicles as part of the brand’s future direction. However, Zeekr did not confirm whether its future off-road-focused vehicles would adopt a boxy design.
That said, Zeekr could be considering introducing off-road vehicles to counter other Chinese car brands that have off-road SUV models. Brands like iCAUR, which features a model lineup consists of boxy SUVs like the V23, V25, and the V27. It is under parent company Chery Automobile and targets lifestyle-oriented car buyers who are looking for distinctive vehicles over traditional styling. Following its initial rollout in China, iCAUR has expanded across global markets, including Southeast Asia, Australia, South America, and Europe.
Autocar’s Take
Zeekr is reportedly planning to introduce an off-road-focused SUV that is said to be being developed to rival the likes of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. While there is no official confirmation yet as of this writing, Zeekr could be planning to make a boxy off-roader that looks rugged and assertive yet integrated with premium features. This also shows that Zeekr might be seeking a way into the off-road-focused SUV market, which could be the reason why it wants to expand its model offerings by having a vehicle that’s meant to be driven on rough roads.
