Asia shares track Wall Street lower, dollar struggling
US services sector activity unexpectedly flatlined in July, data showed on Tuesday. Employment further weakened and input costs climbed by the most in nearly three years, underscoring the impact from President Donald Trump's tariff policy.
Second-quarter earnings results also revealed pressure from Trump's tariff wars. Taco Bell parent Yum Brands missed expectations as steep trade duties dent consumer spending, while Caterpillar warned that US tariffs would cost it up to $US1.5 billion ($A2.3 billion) this year.
"It paints a picture of a stagflationary dynamic, which although still far from truly coming to fruition, raises the risk of a toxic mix of rising joblessness and prices as tariffs filter through the US economy," said Kyle Rodda, senior analyst at Capital.com.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.2 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei eked out a small 0.2 per cent gain.
Both Chinese blue chips and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index were flat.
Nasdaq futures fell 0.3 per cent and S&P 500 futures eased 0.1 per cent.
Trump on Tuesday said it would announce tariffs on semiconductors and chips in the next week or so, while the US would initially impose a "small tariff" on pharmaceutical imports before increasing it substantially in a year or two.
He also said the US was close to a trade deal with China and that he would meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping before the end of the year if an agreement was struck. However, he threatened to further raise tariffs on goods from India over its Russian oil purchases.
In currency markets, the dollar consolidated after sliding from two-month highs last Friday on a weak jobs report that had markets price in a near-certain chance of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in September.
The dollar index, which measures the US currency against six counterparts, was flat at 98.821 and was up 0.1 per cent this week after Friday's 1.4 per cent fall.
Fed funds futures imply a 94 per cent chance of a rate cut next month, with at least two cuts priced in for this year, according to the CME's FedWatch.
Investors are waiting for Trump's pick to fill a coming vacancy on the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors. Trump said the decision will be made soon, while ruling out Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as a contender to replace current chief Jerome Powell, whose term ends in May 2026.
Treasury yields edged up overnight after a $US58 billion ($A90 billion) auction of three-year notes went poorly, but still hovered near multi-month lows. More supply will hit the market this week with $US42 billion ($A65 billion) in 10-year notes on Wednesday and $US25 billion ($A39 billion) in 30-year bonds on Thursday.
Two-year Treasury yields rose 1 basis point to 3.7284 per cent, having risen 3.5 bps overnight, while benchmark 10-year yields ticked up 2 bps to 4.2198 per cent, after holding steady overnight.
In commodity markets, oil prices edged up after four straight sessions of declines. US crude rose 0.2 per cent to $US65.3 ($A100.8) per barrel, while Brent was at a one-month low of $US67.78 ($A104.63) per barrel, up 0.1 per cent.
Trump said on Tuesday he will decide on whether to sanction countries who purchase Russian oil after a meeting with Russian officials scheduled for Wednesday.
Spot gold prices were flat at $US3,381 ($A5,219) an ounce.
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News.com.au
30 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Pacific microstate sells first passports to fund climate action
A remote Pacific nation has started selling passports to fund climate action, but is so far struggling to attract new citizens to the low-lying, largely barren island. Pacific microstate Nauru, one of the world's smallest nations, has a novel plan to fund its fight against climate change by selling so-called "golden passports". Selling for US$105,000 each, Nauru plans to drum up more than US$5 million in the first year of the "climate resilience citizenship" programme. Almost six months after the scheme opened in February, Nauru has so far approved just six applications -- covering two families and four individuals. Despite the slow start -- Nauru eventually hopes to sell 66 passports in the scheme's first year -- President David Adeang remained upbeat. "We welcome our new citizens whose investment will assist Nauru to secure a sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come," he told AFP on Thursday. Nauru believes the passport programme could eventually generate $43 million -– or about 500 successful applicants -- which would account for almost 20 percent of total government revenue. But there are fears the scheme could be ripe for exploitation. Edward Clark, who runs Nauru's climate passport programme, said one application has already been withdrawn after officials flagged "adverse findings" during background checks. "The application would have been rejected had it not been withdrawn," he told AFP. A previous Nauru attempt to sell passports ended in disaster. In 2003, Nauru officials sold citizenship to Al-Qaeda members who were later arrested in Asia. Among the first batch of climate passports approved was an unnamed German family of four living in Dubai, said Clark touting the "major milestone". - 'Political volatility' - "They were looking for a second citizenship to provide them with a Plan B given the current global political volatility." The Nauru passport provides visa-free entry into 89 countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong. More than 60 different nations offer some form of migration for investment schemes, Australia's Lowy Institute has found. Pacific nations such as Vanuatu, Samoa and Tonga have all dabbled in selling passports. The island republic of Nauru sits on a small plateau of phosphate rock in the sparsely populated South Pacific. With a total landmass of just 21 square kilometres (eight square miles), it is one of the world's smallest nations. Unusually pure phosphate deposits -- a key ingredient in fertiliser -- once made Nauru one of the wealthiest places, per capita, on the planet. But these supplies have long dried up, and researchers today estimate 80 percent of Nauru has been rendered uninhabitable by mining. What little land Nauru has left is threatened by encroaching tides. Scientists have measured sea levels rising 1.5 times faster than global averages. Nauru will eventually need to relocate 90 percent of its population as creeping seas start to eat away at its coastal fringe. The first phase of this mass relocation is estimated to cost more than $60 million.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Asian stocks climb, dollar droops on Fed easing bets
Asian equities have risen, with Japanese shares hitting a record high, as tech-led gains on Wall Street, upbeat earnings and growing expectations for US rate cuts boosted sentiment. The prospect of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine also underpinned sentiment, benefiting the euro, while weighing on oil prices as traders gauged the outlook for sanctions on Moscow. Sterling held its ground at a one-week high going into the Bank of England's policy announcement later in the day, with a quarter-point cut widely expected, and the focus falling on a possible three-way split within the board. At the same time, markets largely shook off Trump's latest tariff threats, including an additional 25 per cent tariff on India over purchases of Russian oil and a threatened 100 per cent duty on chips. Japan's broad Topix index rose 0.9 per cent on Thursday to reach an all-time high, with the more tech-focused Nikkei also gaining by about the same margin. Taiwan's stock benchmark surged 2.3 per cent to a more than one-year peak. South Korea's KOSPI added 0.6 per cent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.4 per cent, and mainland Chinese blue chips advanced 0.3 per cent. Australian shares edged slightly lower after hitting a record high on Wednesday. US stock futures were buoyant, with those for the S&P 500 up 0.3 per cent and those for the Nasdaq also rising 0.3 per cent. On Wednesday, the S&P 500 climbed 0.7 per cent and the Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.2 per cent. "Wall Street seems to have gotten its mojo back," analyst Kyle Rodda wrote in a note. "However, there are persistent risks to the downside. Downside surprises in official data are increasing," he said. "Valuations are also stretched, with forward price to earnings hovering around the highest in four years. And trade uncertainty persists." The US dollar remained lower against major peers on Thursday, with expectations of easier policy from the Federal Reserve stoked both by some disappointing macroeconomic indicators - not least Friday's payrolls report - and Trump's move to install new picks on the Fed board that are likely to share the US President's dovish views on monetary policy. Focus is centred on Trump's nomination to fill a coming vacancy on the Fed's board of governors and candidates for the next chair of the central bank, with current Chair Jerome Powell's tenure due to end in May. The dollar index, which gauges the currency against the euro, sterling and four other counterparts, gained slightly to 98.245, after dropping 0.6 per cent on Wednesday. The euro was little changed at $1.1657, following the previous session's 0.7 per cent jump. Sterling was steady at $1.3356. The BoE looks poised to cut interest rates for the fifth time in 12 months later on Thursday, but nagging worries about inflation are likely to split its policymakers and cloud the outlook for its next moves. Two Monetary Policy Committee members may push for a half-point rate cut, and two may lobby for no change. The dollar added 0.1 per cent to 147.53 yen. Gold gained 0.4 per cent to around $3,382 per ounce, buoyed by the weaker dollar. Crude oil clawed back some losses from Wednesday, when both Brent and West Texas Intermediate slid about 1 per cent. Brent crude futures were last up 20 cents, or 0.3 per cent, at $67.09 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 22 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $64.57 a barrel. Asian equities have risen, with Japanese shares hitting a record high, as tech-led gains on Wall Street, upbeat earnings and growing expectations for US rate cuts boosted sentiment. The prospect of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine also underpinned sentiment, benefiting the euro, while weighing on oil prices as traders gauged the outlook for sanctions on Moscow. Sterling held its ground at a one-week high going into the Bank of England's policy announcement later in the day, with a quarter-point cut widely expected, and the focus falling on a possible three-way split within the board. At the same time, markets largely shook off Trump's latest tariff threats, including an additional 25 per cent tariff on India over purchases of Russian oil and a threatened 100 per cent duty on chips. Japan's broad Topix index rose 0.9 per cent on Thursday to reach an all-time high, with the more tech-focused Nikkei also gaining by about the same margin. Taiwan's stock benchmark surged 2.3 per cent to a more than one-year peak. South Korea's KOSPI added 0.6 per cent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.4 per cent, and mainland Chinese blue chips advanced 0.3 per cent. Australian shares edged slightly lower after hitting a record high on Wednesday. US stock futures were buoyant, with those for the S&P 500 up 0.3 per cent and those for the Nasdaq also rising 0.3 per cent. On Wednesday, the S&P 500 climbed 0.7 per cent and the Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.2 per cent. "Wall Street seems to have gotten its mojo back," analyst Kyle Rodda wrote in a note. "However, there are persistent risks to the downside. Downside surprises in official data are increasing," he said. "Valuations are also stretched, with forward price to earnings hovering around the highest in four years. And trade uncertainty persists." The US dollar remained lower against major peers on Thursday, with expectations of easier policy from the Federal Reserve stoked both by some disappointing macroeconomic indicators - not least Friday's payrolls report - and Trump's move to install new picks on the Fed board that are likely to share the US President's dovish views on monetary policy. Focus is centred on Trump's nomination to fill a coming vacancy on the Fed's board of governors and candidates for the next chair of the central bank, with current Chair Jerome Powell's tenure due to end in May. The dollar index, which gauges the currency against the euro, sterling and four other counterparts, gained slightly to 98.245, after dropping 0.6 per cent on Wednesday. The euro was little changed at $1.1657, following the previous session's 0.7 per cent jump. Sterling was steady at $1.3356. The BoE looks poised to cut interest rates for the fifth time in 12 months later on Thursday, but nagging worries about inflation are likely to split its policymakers and cloud the outlook for its next moves. Two Monetary Policy Committee members may push for a half-point rate cut, and two may lobby for no change. The dollar added 0.1 per cent to 147.53 yen. Gold gained 0.4 per cent to around $3,382 per ounce, buoyed by the weaker dollar. Crude oil clawed back some losses from Wednesday, when both Brent and West Texas Intermediate slid about 1 per cent. Brent crude futures were last up 20 cents, or 0.3 per cent, at $67.09 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 22 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $64.57 a barrel. Asian equities have risen, with Japanese shares hitting a record high, as tech-led gains on Wall Street, upbeat earnings and growing expectations for US rate cuts boosted sentiment. The prospect of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine also underpinned sentiment, benefiting the euro, while weighing on oil prices as traders gauged the outlook for sanctions on Moscow. Sterling held its ground at a one-week high going into the Bank of England's policy announcement later in the day, with a quarter-point cut widely expected, and the focus falling on a possible three-way split within the board. At the same time, markets largely shook off Trump's latest tariff threats, including an additional 25 per cent tariff on India over purchases of Russian oil and a threatened 100 per cent duty on chips. Japan's broad Topix index rose 0.9 per cent on Thursday to reach an all-time high, with the more tech-focused Nikkei also gaining by about the same margin. Taiwan's stock benchmark surged 2.3 per cent to a more than one-year peak. South Korea's KOSPI added 0.6 per cent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.4 per cent, and mainland Chinese blue chips advanced 0.3 per cent. Australian shares edged slightly lower after hitting a record high on Wednesday. US stock futures were buoyant, with those for the S&P 500 up 0.3 per cent and those for the Nasdaq also rising 0.3 per cent. On Wednesday, the S&P 500 climbed 0.7 per cent and the Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.2 per cent. "Wall Street seems to have gotten its mojo back," analyst Kyle Rodda wrote in a note. "However, there are persistent risks to the downside. Downside surprises in official data are increasing," he said. "Valuations are also stretched, with forward price to earnings hovering around the highest in four years. And trade uncertainty persists." The US dollar remained lower against major peers on Thursday, with expectations of easier policy from the Federal Reserve stoked both by some disappointing macroeconomic indicators - not least Friday's payrolls report - and Trump's move to install new picks on the Fed board that are likely to share the US President's dovish views on monetary policy. Focus is centred on Trump's nomination to fill a coming vacancy on the Fed's board of governors and candidates for the next chair of the central bank, with current Chair Jerome Powell's tenure due to end in May. The dollar index, which gauges the currency against the euro, sterling and four other counterparts, gained slightly to 98.245, after dropping 0.6 per cent on Wednesday. The euro was little changed at $1.1657, following the previous session's 0.7 per cent jump. Sterling was steady at $1.3356. The BoE looks poised to cut interest rates for the fifth time in 12 months later on Thursday, but nagging worries about inflation are likely to split its policymakers and cloud the outlook for its next moves. Two Monetary Policy Committee members may push for a half-point rate cut, and two may lobby for no change. The dollar added 0.1 per cent to 147.53 yen. Gold gained 0.4 per cent to around $3,382 per ounce, buoyed by the weaker dollar. Crude oil clawed back some losses from Wednesday, when both Brent and West Texas Intermediate slid about 1 per cent. Brent crude futures were last up 20 cents, or 0.3 per cent, at $67.09 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 22 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $64.57 a barrel. Asian equities have risen, with Japanese shares hitting a record high, as tech-led gains on Wall Street, upbeat earnings and growing expectations for US rate cuts boosted sentiment. The prospect of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine also underpinned sentiment, benefiting the euro, while weighing on oil prices as traders gauged the outlook for sanctions on Moscow. Sterling held its ground at a one-week high going into the Bank of England's policy announcement later in the day, with a quarter-point cut widely expected, and the focus falling on a possible three-way split within the board. At the same time, markets largely shook off Trump's latest tariff threats, including an additional 25 per cent tariff on India over purchases of Russian oil and a threatened 100 per cent duty on chips. Japan's broad Topix index rose 0.9 per cent on Thursday to reach an all-time high, with the more tech-focused Nikkei also gaining by about the same margin. Taiwan's stock benchmark surged 2.3 per cent to a more than one-year peak. South Korea's KOSPI added 0.6 per cent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.4 per cent, and mainland Chinese blue chips advanced 0.3 per cent. Australian shares edged slightly lower after hitting a record high on Wednesday. US stock futures were buoyant, with those for the S&P 500 up 0.3 per cent and those for the Nasdaq also rising 0.3 per cent. On Wednesday, the S&P 500 climbed 0.7 per cent and the Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.2 per cent. "Wall Street seems to have gotten its mojo back," analyst Kyle Rodda wrote in a note. "However, there are persistent risks to the downside. Downside surprises in official data are increasing," he said. "Valuations are also stretched, with forward price to earnings hovering around the highest in four years. And trade uncertainty persists." The US dollar remained lower against major peers on Thursday, with expectations of easier policy from the Federal Reserve stoked both by some disappointing macroeconomic indicators - not least Friday's payrolls report - and Trump's move to install new picks on the Fed board that are likely to share the US President's dovish views on monetary policy. Focus is centred on Trump's nomination to fill a coming vacancy on the Fed's board of governors and candidates for the next chair of the central bank, with current Chair Jerome Powell's tenure due to end in May. The dollar index, which gauges the currency against the euro, sterling and four other counterparts, gained slightly to 98.245, after dropping 0.6 per cent on Wednesday. The euro was little changed at $1.1657, following the previous session's 0.7 per cent jump. Sterling was steady at $1.3356. The BoE looks poised to cut interest rates for the fifth time in 12 months later on Thursday, but nagging worries about inflation are likely to split its policymakers and cloud the outlook for its next moves. Two Monetary Policy Committee members may push for a half-point rate cut, and two may lobby for no change. The dollar added 0.1 per cent to 147.53 yen. Gold gained 0.4 per cent to around $3,382 per ounce, buoyed by the weaker dollar. Crude oil clawed back some losses from Wednesday, when both Brent and West Texas Intermediate slid about 1 per cent. Brent crude futures were last up 20 cents, or 0.3 per cent, at $67.09 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 22 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $64.57 a barrel.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Zeekr 7X pricing: New mid-size electric SUV undercuts Tesla Model Y
The Zeekr 7X will undercut the top-selling Tesla Model Y in Australia, with a base price of $57,900 before on-road costs. That's for the entry-level single-motor rear-wheel drive variant – called simply the RWD – and it means the new Chinese electric SUV undercuts the base Model Y RWD by $1000. The mid-spec Long Range RWD is priced at $63,900 before on-roads, while the Performance AWD costs $72,900 before on-roads. For context, the Model Y Long Range AWD is smack bang in the middle of those two at $68,900 before on-roads. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The first 1000 7X buyers will also get a 7kW home charger and Type 2 and mini portable charging cables, and won't pay any extra for exterior or interior colour options. The 7X is available now for pre-order in Australia, where first customer deliveries will take place in October. The mid-size electric SUV has an 800V electrical architecture and can be charged at up to 450kW on DC power and 22kW using AC power. Using a 360kW charger, if you can find one in Australia, you can charge a 7X RWD from 10 to 80 per cent in 13 minutes and in 16 minutes for other variants (claimed). With a 22kW home wallbox, Zeekr says it takes 4.5 hours for the RWD to be charged from 10 to 100 per cent, or 5.5 hours in the others. Here's how the variants compare: The Performance can do the 0-100km/h dash in a claimed 3.8 seconds, and also features active air suspension with continuous damper control. Ground clearance can be raised by up to 45mm, and there's also an off-road mode. The 7X measures 4787mm long, 1650mm tall and rides a 2900mm wheelbase, making it 5mm shorter than a Model Y but on a 10mm longer wheelbase. There's 539 litres of cargo space at the rear, and up to 62L under the bonnet. The 7X comes standard with a 16-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 36.2-inch augmented reality head-up display is optional, while the flagship Performance features electric front and rear doors and heated, ventilated and massaging front seats. There's a suite of active safety and driver assist features, powered by 12 cameras and one radar system. These include adaptive cruise control, a 3D surround-view camera, front and rear cross-traffic alert, and Zeekr's Full Automatic Park Assist. The 7X also supports over-the-air software updates, and Zeekr says these features will continue to improve over time and also gain new functionality. As with other Zeekr models, the 7X is backed by a seven-year vehicle warranty, with seven years of roadside assistance. Zeekr is owned by Chinese auto giant Geely, which also controls Polestar, Lotus and Volvo, and the 7X joins a pair of electric vehicles (EVs) already on sale Down Under: the X small crossover SUV, and the large 009 people mover. The brand has sold more than 520,000 vehicles globally since launching in China in 2021. MORE: Explore the Zeekr 7X showroom Content originally sourced from: The Zeekr 7X will undercut the top-selling Tesla Model Y in Australia, with a base price of $57,900 before on-road costs. That's for the entry-level single-motor rear-wheel drive variant – called simply the RWD – and it means the new Chinese electric SUV undercuts the base Model Y RWD by $1000. The mid-spec Long Range RWD is priced at $63,900 before on-roads, while the Performance AWD costs $72,900 before on-roads. For context, the Model Y Long Range AWD is smack bang in the middle of those two at $68,900 before on-roads. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The first 1000 7X buyers will also get a 7kW home charger and Type 2 and mini portable charging cables, and won't pay any extra for exterior or interior colour options. The 7X is available now for pre-order in Australia, where first customer deliveries will take place in October. The mid-size electric SUV has an 800V electrical architecture and can be charged at up to 450kW on DC power and 22kW using AC power. Using a 360kW charger, if you can find one in Australia, you can charge a 7X RWD from 10 to 80 per cent in 13 minutes and in 16 minutes for other variants (claimed). With a 22kW home wallbox, Zeekr says it takes 4.5 hours for the RWD to be charged from 10 to 100 per cent, or 5.5 hours in the others. Here's how the variants compare: The Performance can do the 0-100km/h dash in a claimed 3.8 seconds, and also features active air suspension with continuous damper control. Ground clearance can be raised by up to 45mm, and there's also an off-road mode. The 7X measures 4787mm long, 1650mm tall and rides a 2900mm wheelbase, making it 5mm shorter than a Model Y but on a 10mm longer wheelbase. There's 539 litres of cargo space at the rear, and up to 62L under the bonnet. The 7X comes standard with a 16-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 36.2-inch augmented reality head-up display is optional, while the flagship Performance features electric front and rear doors and heated, ventilated and massaging front seats. There's a suite of active safety and driver assist features, powered by 12 cameras and one radar system. These include adaptive cruise control, a 3D surround-view camera, front and rear cross-traffic alert, and Zeekr's Full Automatic Park Assist. The 7X also supports over-the-air software updates, and Zeekr says these features will continue to improve over time and also gain new functionality. As with other Zeekr models, the 7X is backed by a seven-year vehicle warranty, with seven years of roadside assistance. Zeekr is owned by Chinese auto giant Geely, which also controls Polestar, Lotus and Volvo, and the 7X joins a pair of electric vehicles (EVs) already on sale Down Under: the X small crossover SUV, and the large 009 people mover. The brand has sold more than 520,000 vehicles globally since launching in China in 2021. MORE: Explore the Zeekr 7X showroom Content originally sourced from: The Zeekr 7X will undercut the top-selling Tesla Model Y in Australia, with a base price of $57,900 before on-road costs. That's for the entry-level single-motor rear-wheel drive variant – called simply the RWD – and it means the new Chinese electric SUV undercuts the base Model Y RWD by $1000. The mid-spec Long Range RWD is priced at $63,900 before on-roads, while the Performance AWD costs $72,900 before on-roads. For context, the Model Y Long Range AWD is smack bang in the middle of those two at $68,900 before on-roads. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The first 1000 7X buyers will also get a 7kW home charger and Type 2 and mini portable charging cables, and won't pay any extra for exterior or interior colour options. The 7X is available now for pre-order in Australia, where first customer deliveries will take place in October. The mid-size electric SUV has an 800V electrical architecture and can be charged at up to 450kW on DC power and 22kW using AC power. Using a 360kW charger, if you can find one in Australia, you can charge a 7X RWD from 10 to 80 per cent in 13 minutes and in 16 minutes for other variants (claimed). With a 22kW home wallbox, Zeekr says it takes 4.5 hours for the RWD to be charged from 10 to 100 per cent, or 5.5 hours in the others. Here's how the variants compare: The Performance can do the 0-100km/h dash in a claimed 3.8 seconds, and also features active air suspension with continuous damper control. Ground clearance can be raised by up to 45mm, and there's also an off-road mode. The 7X measures 4787mm long, 1650mm tall and rides a 2900mm wheelbase, making it 5mm shorter than a Model Y but on a 10mm longer wheelbase. There's 539 litres of cargo space at the rear, and up to 62L under the bonnet. The 7X comes standard with a 16-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 36.2-inch augmented reality head-up display is optional, while the flagship Performance features electric front and rear doors and heated, ventilated and massaging front seats. There's a suite of active safety and driver assist features, powered by 12 cameras and one radar system. These include adaptive cruise control, a 3D surround-view camera, front and rear cross-traffic alert, and Zeekr's Full Automatic Park Assist. The 7X also supports over-the-air software updates, and Zeekr says these features will continue to improve over time and also gain new functionality. As with other Zeekr models, the 7X is backed by a seven-year vehicle warranty, with seven years of roadside assistance. Zeekr is owned by Chinese auto giant Geely, which also controls Polestar, Lotus and Volvo, and the 7X joins a pair of electric vehicles (EVs) already on sale Down Under: the X small crossover SUV, and the large 009 people mover. The brand has sold more than 520,000 vehicles globally since launching in China in 2021. MORE: Explore the Zeekr 7X showroom Content originally sourced from: The Zeekr 7X will undercut the top-selling Tesla Model Y in Australia, with a base price of $57,900 before on-road costs. That's for the entry-level single-motor rear-wheel drive variant – called simply the RWD – and it means the new Chinese electric SUV undercuts the base Model Y RWD by $1000. The mid-spec Long Range RWD is priced at $63,900 before on-roads, while the Performance AWD costs $72,900 before on-roads. For context, the Model Y Long Range AWD is smack bang in the middle of those two at $68,900 before on-roads. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The first 1000 7X buyers will also get a 7kW home charger and Type 2 and mini portable charging cables, and won't pay any extra for exterior or interior colour options. The 7X is available now for pre-order in Australia, where first customer deliveries will take place in October. The mid-size electric SUV has an 800V electrical architecture and can be charged at up to 450kW on DC power and 22kW using AC power. Using a 360kW charger, if you can find one in Australia, you can charge a 7X RWD from 10 to 80 per cent in 13 minutes and in 16 minutes for other variants (claimed). With a 22kW home wallbox, Zeekr says it takes 4.5 hours for the RWD to be charged from 10 to 100 per cent, or 5.5 hours in the others. Here's how the variants compare: The Performance can do the 0-100km/h dash in a claimed 3.8 seconds, and also features active air suspension with continuous damper control. Ground clearance can be raised by up to 45mm, and there's also an off-road mode. The 7X measures 4787mm long, 1650mm tall and rides a 2900mm wheelbase, making it 5mm shorter than a Model Y but on a 10mm longer wheelbase. There's 539 litres of cargo space at the rear, and up to 62L under the bonnet. The 7X comes standard with a 16-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 36.2-inch augmented reality head-up display is optional, while the flagship Performance features electric front and rear doors and heated, ventilated and massaging front seats. There's a suite of active safety and driver assist features, powered by 12 cameras and one radar system. These include adaptive cruise control, a 3D surround-view camera, front and rear cross-traffic alert, and Zeekr's Full Automatic Park Assist. The 7X also supports over-the-air software updates, and Zeekr says these features will continue to improve over time and also gain new functionality. As with other Zeekr models, the 7X is backed by a seven-year vehicle warranty, with seven years of roadside assistance. Zeekr is owned by Chinese auto giant Geely, which also controls Polestar, Lotus and Volvo, and the 7X joins a pair of electric vehicles (EVs) already on sale Down Under: the X small crossover SUV, and the large 009 people mover. The brand has sold more than 520,000 vehicles globally since launching in China in 2021. MORE: Explore the Zeekr 7X showroom Content originally sourced from:
