Minivans have a surprising level of importance in China, sparking fierce competition among automakers to offer the most luxurious and opulent options. Geely is a key player in this race with its new Zeekr 009 Grand Collector Edition, a premium EV featuring 24K gold accents and plush Alpaca wool carpets inside the cabin.

More: Zeekr 9X Grand PHEV Is Geely’s $140k BMW And Range Rover Rival

The 5,217 mm-long (205.4 inches) Zeekr 009 Grand Collector Edition builds upon the standard Zeekr 009 Grand, which debuted last year. What sets this ultra-luxury trim apart are the gold details that are found on the bumpers, window surrounds, and side skirts, and which contrast sharply against the black exterior.

The gold accents extend to the badging and the 20-inch alloy wheels, which take design cues from Rolls-Royce, just in case you missed the luxury memo.

A 43-Inch Display

Step inside, and the real showstopper is the carpeting. Made from soft alpaca wool, these carpets are sourced from the necks and shoulders of young alpacas living at 13,000 feet in the Andes of Peru. So, yes, your feet will be treading on luxury. Let’s just hope passengers are mindful enough to remove their shoes, so they can truly experience what $123,000 worth of floor covering feels like.

The interior layout is focused entirely on comfort. With a four-seat configuration, rear passengers enjoy reclining captain’s chairs that feature a 24-way adjustable position, leg rests, retractable tables, and no fewer than eight massage programs. If you still need distractions, there’s also a 43-inch 4K display, electrochromic glass, a Yamaha sound system with 31 speakers, and an 18-liter compartment with heating, cooling, and sterilization functions. This is not your typical minivan.

Power and Performance

The underpinnings are the same as the Zeekr 009 Grand, but the powertrain is no slouch. Two electric motors generate a combined 778 horsepower (580 kW), delivering 810 Nm (597 lb-ft) of torque. This translates to a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of just 3.9 seconds, which is almost laughable for a minivan, except it isn’t.

The 108 kWh CATL-sourced Qilin battery provides a range of up to 702 km (436 miles) on the Chinese CTLC cycle, so you can travel in comfort—and speed—without worrying about recharging too soon.

The Price Tag

The Zeekr 009 Grand Collector Edition is already available to order in China for a cool ¥899,000 ($123,000), making it ¥110,000 ($770) more expensive than the Zeekr 009 Grand. The new flagship trim will be showcased at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, with deliveries expected to commence this June.

Now, about that price: the Zeekr 009 Grand Collector Edition will set you back ¥899,000 ($123,000), which is just ¥110,000 ($770) more than the standard Zeekr 009 Grand. It’s already available for order in China, with deliveries expected to begin in June 2025. If you’re in the market for luxury on wheels, you might want to take a look at the Zeekr 009 Grand, just be ready to break the bank.

Beyond the Grand Collector Edition, Zeekr has also introduced a right-hand-drive version of the 009. Additionally, the upcoming Zeekr 9X SUV will soon join the lineup, expanding Geely’s offerings under the Zeekr brand.

Electric vehicles might be the future, but profitability? That’s still a rare luxury in the EV world. An interesting study has revealed that just four EV-only brands are currently operating at a profit, while many others continue to bleed money at impressive rates. It probably won’t shock anyone that Tesla and BYD are leading the charge, but some of the other top-performing names are a bit less expected.

Read: Only 1 In 7 Of Today’s Chinese EV Brands Will Be Profitable By 2030, Analysts Claim

The study examined the operating income ratios of major EV brands and found that in 2024, Tesla reported an operating margin of 7.2%, putting it just ahead of BYD at 6.4%. However, while Tesla’s margin has declined since 2023, BYD’s has been climbing. If that trajectory holds, as many analysts expect, BYD could soon surpass Tesla in operating profitability.

Vertical Integration Pays Off

Key to the growth of both of these brands is that they are vertically integrated, helping them to scale and reach profitability sooner. The only other two brands analyzed by the study to have reached profitability are China’s Li Auto and the Series Group, which includes the Seres, Aito, and Landian brands.

While none of the other EV brands analyzed turned a profit in 2024, a few are edging closer. Zeekr, part of the Geely group, reported an operating margin of -8.5% last year. But with sales on the rise, it may soon begin delivering profits for its parent company. Xpeng and Leapmotor are also moving in the right direction, having more than halved their losses between 2023 and 2024.

Nio is another important player in China’s EV market, but not a profitable one. Its 2024 operating margin came in at over -30%, suggesting it still has a long climb ahead before it sees black ink on its balance sheet.

Tesla Stands Alone Outside China

Tesla remains the only non-Chinese EV brand to hit profitability. Polestar hasn’t crossed that threshold yet, though it did manage to reduce its losses in 2024. Similarly, Rivian also remains in the red, though like Polestar, it continues to receive substantial external funding.

At the other end of the spectrum, Lucid holds the dubious honor of running the steepest losses in the EV sector. According to data from Rho Motion, its 2024 operating margin was -374%. That’s an improvement from over -500% the year before, but still, not exactly a sign of financial health. Heavy backing from Saudi Arabia is helping Lucid stay afloat despite the massive shortfalls.

Just a month after leading Chinese EV maker BYD announced its new ‘God’s Eye’ suite of driver-assistance systems, the Geely-owned Zeekr has launched its intelligent driving program. Zeekr’s solution, available in several different tiers, will be added to existing models via an over-the-air update over the coming months.

All versions of the system, dubbed G-Pilot, include a General Automated Evasion System (G-AES) and Full-Capacity Vehicle-to-Parking (V2P) intelligent drive capabilities. The G-AES system uses a large AI training model and allows for “continuous evasive maneuvers for unexpected obstacles” at speeds of up to 81 mph (130 km/h).

Read: Zeekr 9X Grand PHEV Is Geely’s $140k BMW And Range Rover Rival

Meanwhile, Zeekr’s V2P intelligent drive system allows their EVs to automatically search for empty parking spaces and park autonomously. The upcoming Zeekr 9X Grand will build on these systems with even greater capabilities.

The G-Pilot system will come standard in the company’s upcoming flagship luxury SUV and will be Level 3-capable self-driving and is powered by dual Nvidia Drive AGX Thor chips. Much like Tesla’s assisted-driving systems, Zeekr says its G-Pilot suite will evolve and improve throughout the lifespan of its EVs. This Level 3 system will also allow the car to drive itself from one destination to another, without driver input.

Zeekr 9X

While many details about the 9X remain a mystery, recent teasers show it will be a large SUV similar in size to the Range Rover and Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Not only will it be the brand’s largest and most luxurious model, but it will also be the first to use a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Little is known about this powertrain, but it’ll likely include a spritely gasoline engine and at least two electric motors and could be identical to the mechanically related Lynk & Co 900.

In the base Lynk & Co 900, a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine is paired with a 215 hp front motor and a 308 hp rear motor, making for a combined 710 hp. A pair of 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder PHEVs are also offered, with one offering a combined 724 hp and the second an even more impressive 845 hp.