Zeekr Intelligent Technology, the premium electric vehicle (EV) maker controlled by Geely Auto, has unveiled a new sport-utility vehicle (SUV) to take on Tesla's bestselling Model Y, as competition intensifies in China's fast-growing but crowded market.

The midsize fully electric SUV, known as Zeekr 7X, will be the fifth production model for a company that posted a 66-per cent jump in second-quarter deliveries.

The vehicle, which debuted at the Chengdu Auto Show on Friday, will come in a right-hand drive variant for export markets in future, Zeekr said. The 7X will be offered with two battery options that can travel up to 605km or 780km on a single charge, Zeekr said, without disclosing the catalogue prices.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

The batteries boast the world's fastest charging capability, Zeekr said. The short-range edition, powered by the company's own lithium-ion-phosphate (LFP) battery, features 800-volt ultra-fast charging technology, which can offer nearly 400km of driving range after just 10.5 minutes of charging.

A Model Y on display at the Tesla booth during the World Internet of Things Exposition in Wuxi on October 21, 2023. Photo: Bloomberg. alt=A Model Y on display at the Tesla booth during the World Internet of Things Exposition in Wuxi on October 21, 2023. Photo: Bloomberg.>

The 7X will be built on the open-source Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform launched by Geely in late 2020. The platform supports a wide range of battery-powered vehicles, from passenger cars and SUVs to commercial vans and trucks.

"Model Y has been the target of numerous Chinese rivals, because the midsize SUV segment attracts a wide range of customers," said Chen Jinzhu, the chief executive of Shanghai Mingliang Auto Service, a consultancy. "Zeekr has emerged as a strong premium electric-car maker and will become a new challenger to Tesla and the Model Y."

The Shanghai-made Model Y, which sells from a basic catalogue price of 249,900 yuan (US$35,239), is mainland China's bestselling midsize SUV, outselling all electric and petroleum-driven models. Tesla's Gigafactory delivered 244,000 Model Y vehicles to mainland customers in the first seven months, up 53.6 per cent from the same period last year.

The Zeekr brand delivered 54,811 cars to Chinese and overseas buyers in the second quarter, more than double its deliveries in the same period last year.