Zeekr M-Vision
| Zeekr M-Vision | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Zeekr (Geely Group) |
| Assembly | Ningbo, Zhejiang, China |
| Designer | CEVT, Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | Electric minivan / Robotaxi concept |
| Platform | SEA-M (Sustainable Experience Architecture – Mobility) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,700–3,300 mm (variable) |
The Zeekr M-Vision is an autonomous electric mobility concept vehicle developed by Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle brand of Geely Group. Unveiled on November 17, 2022, simultaneously at the Guangzhou Auto Show in China and at an event in Los Angeles, California, the M-Vision served as a concept showcase of Zeekr's purpose-built SEA-M platform — the world's first all-electric vehicle architecture designed specifically for driverless mobility.[1]
Designed principally by Zeekr's design and engineering teams at CEVT (China Euro Vehicle Technology) in Gothenburg, Sweden, the M-Vision was conceived as a passenger-first robotaxi concept capable of supporting SAE Level 4 and above autonomous driving. The concept informed the real-world development of a purpose-built robotaxi in collaboration with Waymo, a partnership first announced on December 29, 2021.[2][3]
The M-Vision's production evolution — known as the Zeekr RT (internally the CM1E) and commercially branded the Waymo Ojai — became Waymo's sixth-generation robotaxi and entered commercial service in the United States in 2025, marking a key milestone as one of the world's first mass-produced, purpose-built autonomous taxi vehicles.[4][5]
Overview
The Zeekr M-Vision represented Zeekr's vision for the future of shared, autonomous mobility. Unlike conventional concept cars, the M-Vision was expressly designed around the passenger rather than the driver, reflecting a foundational shift in vehicle architecture enabled by the removal of traditional driver controls.[6]
The concept adopted a distinctive "capsule" design language — a compact, rounded, friendly form intended to convey approachability and safety. Zeekr described the M-Vision as "intelligent, friendly, confident and adaptable," positioning it as a personal mobility assistant rather than merely a vehicle.[6]
The M-Vision was notable for three concurrent announcements at its unveiling: the concept itself, the formal presentation of the SEA-M platform, and the first public showing of the joint Waymo–Zeekr robotaxi prototype in Los Angeles — signalling that the concept was closely tied to near-term commercial deployment.[7]
Background and development
Zeekr was founded in March 2021 as Geely Group's premium all-electric mobility brand. On December 29, 2021, Geely announced a strategic partnership between Zeekr and Waymo (formerly Google's self-driving car project), under which Zeekr would design and manufacture an all-electric, purpose-built fleet of autonomous robotaxis for Waymo's ride-hailing service, Waymo One.[3]
The vehicles were to be designed and developed at Zeekr's European R&D subsidiary, CEVT, located at Uni3 By Geely in Lindholmen, Gothenburg, Sweden — Geely's European R&D hub founded in 2013. Early prototype versions were spotted during winter testing in Sweden as early as March 2022, operated with a driver and passenger, and again in November 2022 with autonomous driving equipment.[3]
In parallel, autonomous driving company Mobileye — an Intel subsidiary — also selected Zeekr to develop a separate robotaxi fleet, further validating Zeekr's emerging position in the autonomous vehicle space.[2]
The M-Vision concept was unveiled in November 2022 to coincide with the formal reveal of the SEA-M platform and to serve as a design preview for the forthcoming production robotaxi, which Zeekr announced it aimed to bring to mass production by 2024.[1]
SEA-M platform
The M-Vision is built on the SEA-M (Sustainable Experience Architecture – Mobility) platform, a derivative of Geely's original SEA platform presented in autumn 2020. Zeekr describes the SEA-M as the world's first all-electric vehicle architecture developed specifically for driverless mobility applications.[1]
The platform supports a variable wheelbase ranging from 2,700 mm to 3,300 mm, enabling flexible seating configurations ranging from a two-seat luxury layout to a nine-seat commuter shuttle.[8] According to Geely, the SEA-M architecture has six key design pillars:
- Excellent autonomous driving experience
- Convenient passenger entry and exit
- Passenger comfort
- Quiet cabin environment
- Low total cost of use
- High safety standard[2]
The platform is natively compatible with SAE Level 4 and above autonomous driving systems and supports a variety of third-party autonomous driving technology interfaces, making it adaptable for multiple commercial partners. Every SEA-M-based vehicle is engineered to meet global five-star safety standards.[9]
The SEA-M architecture underpins several subsequent Zeekr products, most notably the consumer Zeekr MIX MPV (launched October 2024) and the commercial Zeekr RT robotaxi built for Waymo.[10]
Design
The M-Vision's exterior was designed at Zeekr Design and CEVT in Gothenburg, Sweden. The design brief prioritised making passengers feel comfortable, safe and relaxed — "like a friendly and trusting friend coming to greet you."[6]
Key exterior design features include:
- Capsule silhouette: A compact, rounded profile reminiscent of a personal pod, prioritising interior volume over conventional automotive proportions.
- Illuminated sensors: Sensors on the exterior brighten when the vehicle is parked, signalling to approaching passengers and hinting at the vehicle's autonomous intelligence.
- "Swipe Doors": Electrically powered sliding doors on each side, capable of opening to a maximum width of 1,400 mm (1.4 m). When a passenger approaches, a button illuminates on the door and opens with a single touch.[6]
- Elongated windows: Extended window lines enhance the sense of openness and reinforce the passenger-centric design identity.
- B-pillarless structure: The absence of a B-pillar provides unobstructed cabin access and generous headroom and legroom for passengers up to 195 cm tall.[2]
- Flat floor: A completely flat cabin floor further eases ingress and egress.
Interior and features
Zeekr's designers drew inspiration from furniture and interior architecture rather than conventional automotive design, aiming to create a "mobile living room." The cabin was envisioned as a multi-functional personal space — suitable as a lounge, office, study room, or sleeping space depending on passenger needs.[6]
Notable interior features include:
- Per-seat screens and chargers: Every seat has a screen and charging port within arm's reach, allowing riders to work or entertain themselves independently.
- Foldaway table: A retractable table is available when needed and stows away to maximise space.
- Swivelling front seats: The front seats are designed to rotate, enabling face-to-face social seating configurations — made possible by the absence of a traditional driver position.
- Premium materials: Durable high-quality wool and fabrics in colours and patterns reminiscent of home and office environments.
- Hidden utilities: Speakers and air vents are concealed to maintain a clean, minimalist aesthetic.
- Flexible layout: The interior is fully configurable, with seat arrangements adaptable from 2 (luxury configuration) to 9 seats (shuttle mode).[8]
- Central touchscreen: A touchscreen is mounted in the instrument panel area, serving as the vehicle's primary interface.[2]
Waymo partnership
The Zeekr–Waymo collaboration was announced on December 28–29, 2021, marking a significant moment in the autonomous vehicle industry: the first partnership to bring fully autonomous, all-electric taxi vehicles to the United States, and the first time Waymo had selected a Chinese manufacturer as its primary vehicle platform partner.[3]
Under the agreement, Zeekr would design and manufacture the vehicle bodies at its facility in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China, which would then be shipped to Mesa, Arizona, United States, where Waymo would integrate its proprietary Waymo Driver sixth-generation autonomous system — including updated sensors and a 17-megapixel high-resolution imager capable of capturing millions of data points per second.[3]
The jointly developed vehicle was simultaneously unveiled alongside the M-Vision concept in Los Angeles in November 2022. Zeekr CEO An Chonghui described the unveiling as "a testament to Zeekr's R&D prowess and broad product commercialisation potential."[1]
The production robotaxi went through several internal development designations — including CM1E and CM2E — before entering mass production. Road-testing of pre-production camouflaged prototypes was observed in China and the United States in 2023 and 2024, featuring Waymo's full sensor suite of LiDAR, cameras, and radar arrays.[9]
The finalised production vehicle — commercially designated the Zeekr RT and branded by Waymo as the Waymo Ojai — entered Waymo One commercial service in the United States in 2025, debuting in Los Angeles and subsequently rolling out to San Diego and other Waymo service cities. It is equipped with a distinctive light blue livery, sliding rear doors, and 10 small windshield wipers servicing its sensor array.[4][5]
Legacy and production derivatives
The M-Vision concept proved foundational to multiple production vehicles across Zeekr's lineup:
| Vehicle | Market | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zeekr RT (Waymo Ojai) | United States | Purpose-built Waymo robotaxi; Waymo's 6th-generation vehicle; entered commercial service 2025[3] |
| Zeekr MIX | China (consumer) | First consumer SEA-M product; 5-seat family MPV; launched October 2024 at CNY 279,000–299,000[10] |
| Zeekr CM2E | China / International | Mid-development designation; spied in 2023; featured Zeekr Stargate 90-inch LED light band (1,711 lamps)[9] |
The Zeekr MIX notably inherited the M-Vision's characteristic rounded exterior, sliding doors, B-pillarless openness, and flexible interior layout, while adapting those features for the consumer market. Its wheelbase of 3,008 mm within an overall length of 4,688 mm achieves a turning radius of under 5 metres — a technical feat requiring repositioning of the air conditioning system and development of shorter front overhangs.[10]
The M-Vision's concept of a dedicated autonomous-first architecture has been cited as a significant industry inflection point, demonstrating that a Chinese automaker could successfully develop and supply purpose-built robotaxi hardware at scale for the world's leading autonomous driving operator.
Specifications
| Attribute | Value / Details |
|---|---|
| Concept unveiled | November 17, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Zeekr (Geely Group) |
| Body style | Electric minivan / Robotaxi concept |
| Platform | SEA-M (Sustainable Experience Architecture – Mobility) |
| Wheelbase | 2,700–3,300 mm (variable) |
| Max door opening width | 1,400 mm |
| Seating capacity | 2–9 (configurable) |
| Autonomous driving level | SAE Level 4 and above |
| Durability / Warranty mileage | 500,000 km over 5 years |
| Daily operational hours | >16 hours/day |
| Safety standard | IIHS highest rating (US) |
| Design / R&D location | CEVT, Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Assembly (production) | Ningbo, Zhejiang, China |
| Drive type | Battery electric vehicle (BEV) |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Zeekr unveils Zeekr M-Vision concept car, targets 2024 mass production". CnEVPost. November 17, 2022.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Zeekr M-Vision Concept Car Official Pic Revealed For Waymo's Autonomous Robotaxi Fleet". Car News China. November 18, 2022.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Waymo Ojai". Wikipedia.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Here's Waymo's New Autonomous Taxi From Zeekr, Spotted In The Wild". InsideEVs. November 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Waymo's New L.A.-Based Robotaxi Has 10 Windshield Wipers". MotorTrend. August 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "Zeekr's M-Vision Concept, a glimpse into the future of mobility". Zeekr Technology Europe Newsroom. February 2024.
- ↑ "Geely's Zeekr Unveils M-Vision Concept Car and Autonomous Car Developed With Waymo". Pandaily. November 17, 2022.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Geely-Backed Automaker ZEEKR Unveiled its First Driverless Concept Vehicle ZEEKR M-Vision". EqualOcean. November 22, 2022.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Pre-production Zeekr M-Vision spotted with 1-billion yuan element". Car News China. December 30, 2023.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Geely's Zeekr reveals details behind its sibling to Waymo's robotaxi". TechNode. October 25, 2024.
External links
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