A runaway electric car ran over five people, including a child, at an automotive show in China. The incident took place at Nanjing International New Energy Vehicles, a trade show dedicated to hybrid, electric and other alternative forms of propulsion. Of the victims, two were taken to the hospital, but not in danger, while the rest were released.
According to the Chinese press, the Zeekr X began to move unexpectedly, running over visitors to the event and crashing into other cars, curiously, all models of the BYD.
In response to the video that went viral in the Chinese press, Zeekr, which like Volvo is owned by China’s Geely, posted a statement on the social network Weibo clarifying the accident.
According to the statement, what caused the accident was not the vehicle itself, but a failure in the management of the cars, since the unit did not have the engines configured in display mode, but was parked in an ordinary way.
In addition, the key was very close to the vehicle, which made it possible for it to be turned on. Most likely, someone put the car in Drive and pressed the accelerator, however, the images of the accident do not confirm that there was anyone in the driver’s seat.
Zeekr will arrive in Brazil in 2024
With the increasing arrival of Chinese brands in the Brazilian market, Zeekr saw the opportunity for expansion and is preparing to start its operation in our country in the coming months, probably between August and September.
Some Zeekr units are already running in tests here and have even been presented to potential dealers. The idea is for the brand to be positioned for consumers who are looking for premium and exclusive cars.
Here, rumors point out that Zeekr’s lineup will consist of the 001 SUV, which offers 421 hp of power and a range of up to 600 km in the European WLTP cycle, known for being optimistic. There is also an all-wheel drive version, which adds a 360 hp engine to move the front wheels and in high traffic conditions, it is exclusively responsible for moving the vehicle, since, according to the brand, it is a more efficient engine.
The battery and charging system of the Zeekr 001 is one of the great assets of the model. The Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP) batteries and the 800V system allow it to charge from 10 to 80% of the batteries’ capacity in 11.5 minutes, as well as being able to charge another electric car at speeds of 60 kW, the same as a fast charger, for example.
Another model quoted is the Zeekr X, the same one from the accident. Compact, the SUV shares a platform with the Volvo EX30 and the Smart #1 and has three engine options (272 hp, 428 hp or 476 hp), with an estimated range of around 500 km in Chinese measuring cycle.
