ZEEKR 001, a new electric sedan from Chinese auto giant Geely has gone into production at a facility that is being hailed as ‘the world’s most advanced vehicle factory’.
ZEEKR is Geely’s premium brand, with the 001 spawning out from the former EV brand Lynk & Co, which it acquired.
The ZEEKR 001 was first unveiled in April 2021 prior to the Shanghai Auto Show. Based on Geely Holding Group’s Sustainable Electric Architecture (SEA), the vehicle is able to create 400kw of power with max torque of 768 Nm through a twin motor system capable of sending the 001 from 0-100kph in just 3.8 seconds. Its 100kWh Z-Battery is said to be able to charge from 10% to 80% within 30 minutes. To achieve this, the company has said it will open ultrafast 360Kw charging stations in 10 cities across China by the end of the 2021.
The ZEEKR Intelligent Factory in Ningbo, China, where the 001 is being built claims to be one of the most advanced vehicle facilities created to date thanks to a 5G+ system that allows for agile and transparent production management.
Areas such as the welding section are fully automated with over 300 robots carrying out the work with limited human intervention thanks to the factory utilizing an industrial grade 5G+ intelligent internet system that allows production to be planned, tracked and checked in a fully transparent manner.
In addition, the ZEEKR production process allows for continuous self-optimization, ensuring the quality of each ZEEKR product. For example; the welding production line adopts monitoring systems such as glue application visual guidance, online measurement, and ultrasonic self-inspection, and uses intelligent self-adaptation for welding control to continually improve the welding process.
Since the unveiling of the ZEEKR 001 in April 2021, ZEEKR has listened to initial feedback from users who have seen and tested the 001 at dedicated Experience Center locations or have taken part in real world testing, on city roads, in the mountains and even in the desert.
