SK On Deploys CATL-Powered Zeekr 7X SUV for Fleet Benchmark

SK On received South Korea’s first commercial delivery of the Zeekr 7X electric SUV on Oct. 22, 2026, deploying the CATL-powered flagship vehicle to benchmark competitor technology and vehicle performance.

The vehicle is the top-tier Ultra all-wheel-drive trim of the midsize electric sport utility vehicle, retailing at 69.99 million won ($50,700). It features a 100-kilowatt-hour ternary lithium battery pack supplied by Chinese competitor Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited.

The dual-motor powertrain produces 645 horsepower and 72.4 kilogram-meters of torque, accelerating from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 3.9 seconds. It delivers an official driving range of 440 kilometers under South Korean ambient testing regulations.

Zeekr Korea, the local distribution unit of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, handed over the SUV at its flagship showroom in Gangnam, Seoul. The event marked the premium Chinese brand’s first customer vehicle handover in the country.

Lee Jae-seung, head of sales at SK On, and Lee Min-jeong, head of global sales, attended the ceremony. Zeekr International chief operating officer Jeff Chao and Zeekr Korea chief executive Lim Hyun-ki represented the automaker.

SK On said it purchased the electric SUV as an official corporate fleet vehicle for business duties and executive transportation. The company said employees will operate the vehicle directly to assess commercial quality and underlying engineering.

The purchase gives the South Korean cell manufacturer direct operational access to Geely’s electric architecture and CATL’s battery pack design. Operating a rival pack in daily domestic traffic enables engineers to track charging profiles, thermal management and cell efficiency.

SK On currently operates several electric vehicles across its corporate fleet, including Hyundai Motor Company’s Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9. The Zeekr 7X marks the battery maker’s first acquisition of a Chinese-manufactured electric vehicle.

Understanding customer systems requires testing multiple vehicles from different manufacturers, an SK On official said. The purchase represents an acquisition of an advanced passenger vehicle rather than a cell procurement endorsement, the official said.

Market observers initially speculated that SK On introduced the vehicle to assess lithium iron phosphate cell engineering. However, the delivered Ultra trim uses nickel-cobalt-manganese chemistry rather than lithium iron phosphate.

Zeekr reserves lithium iron phosphate cells for the entry-level 7X Pro trim, which carries a 75-kilowatt-hour pack. The Pro trim is priced at 52.99 million won ($38,400) and offers an official range of 375 kilometers.

The mid-tier Max trim carries the same 100-kilowatt-hour CATL ternary pack as the Ultra model. With a rear-wheel-drive single motor, the Max variant delivers 483 kilometers of range for 59.99 million won ($43,450).

The acquisition drew automotive scrutiny because SK On maintains established commercial ties with Geely Group while lacking orders from the Zeekr brand. In 2023, SK On secured a contract to supply high-nickel ternary battery cells for the Polestar 5 luxury four-door electric grand tourer.

SK On dismissed speculation that the vehicle delivery indicates an impending cell supply contract with Zeekr. Geely remains an important automotive partner, but the vehicle purchase is completely separate from supply negotiations, the company said.

The delivery reflects the competitive overlap between South Korean and Chinese battery ecosystems. CATL has steadily widened its commercial presence in South Korea by supplying ternary and phosphate packs for imported electric cars and commercial fleets.

South Korean battery producers are expanding their engineering focus from individual cell chemistry to full-pack thermal integration. Carmakers increasingly assess battery suppliers on overall pack packaging, fast-charging cooling loops and structural efficiency across skateboard platforms.

Direct fleet operation allows SK On personnel to monitor CATL’s battery management system algorithms and cell degradation over prolonged operational duty cycles. Such real-world data points inform development schedules for domestic cell makers preparing next-generation high-nickel and mid-nickel vehicle platforms.

Zeekr Korea and SK On did not state whether the vehicle will undergo structural teardown or destructive laboratory reverse engineering. Neither company published commercial procurement terms or formal discussions regarding localized cell supply contracts.

Zeekr Korea plans to establish 14 retail showrooms and 11 service centers across South Korea by Dec. 31, 2026. The automaker has begun general customer handovers across its three-trim lineup following the initial delivery to SK On.