On March 23, SAIC announced the pre‑sale price of the Z7T at 239,800 yuan. Just one week earlier, on March 17, Huawei QIANKUN AISTALAND held a brand launch event where its first model, the AISTALAND GT7, debuted and opened for blind reservations. Within a single week, Huawei launched two shooting brakes. With their sleek, elegant body lines, shooting brakes naturally attract attention for their exterior styling. Huawei’s consecutive moves have undoubtedly heightened public interest in shooting brakes. However, new energy shooting brakes did not become an overnight hit. As early as 2021, the Zeekr 001 arrived on the market. With a combination of handling and practicality, it carved out a less crowded path to volume sales. It can be said that the Zeekr 001 introduced many people to shooting brakes. Since then, models such as the NIO ET5T and DENZA Z9GT have entered the segment, while the SAIC Z7T, AISTALAND GT7, and Avatr 06T are awaiting launch. The shooting brake market has entered an era of fierce competition. These vehicles cover price ranges from 200,000 yuan to over one million yuan, with distinct design styles, powertrains, and intelligent configurations. This article reviews the core features and sales performance of mainstream shooting brakes on the market to see how this niche category is truly moving toward the mainstream. Launched Models Since its launch in October 2021, delivery of the Zeekr 001 has grown rapidly—from 6,007 units in its first three months of 2021 to 71,900 units in 2022. For a long time, it was Zeekr’s top seller, bringing shooting brakes to mainstream attention. Zeekr 001 Looking back in 2026, the Zeekr 001’s success likely stemmed from its well‑rounded capabilities: strong driving performance and handling from the SEA architecture, styling appealing to young families, and a height of over 1.5 meters that gives it SUV‑like space. Word of mouth kept the Zeekr 001 popular, but rising focus on intelligence, new competitors, and Zeekr’s brand strategy have diverted attention, pushing its average monthly deliveries down to 3,465 units in 2025. Before its major generation change, the Zeekr 001 faces more rivals than ever. Excluding the Zeekr 001 FR, a high‑performance variant, the Zeekr 007GT is Zeekr’s second shooting brake after the 001. Launched in April 2025, this model has had modest sales. The Zeekr 007 series sold 2,173 units in February, fewer than the Zeekr 001’s 3,205 units. The Zeekr 007GT is more compact than the Zeekr 001, with a focus on value and tech features. It offers a maximum CLTC Battery‑efficient Driving Range (BEDR) of 825 km, higher than the Zeekr 001’s 810 km, and comes standard with the dual Orin‑X chip‑powered Qianli Haohan H7 system, matching its tech flagship positioning. Zeekr 007GT However, it lags behind the Zeekr 001 in battery, luxury design, and chassis specs, consistent with their tiered positioning. Can the late‑to‑market Zeekr 007GT replicate the Zeekr 001’s word‑of‑mouth success and achieve steady sales growth? Although NIO officially positions the ET5T as a “station wagon,” its sloping roofline, low‑slung coupe stance, and hatchback tailgate align closely with shooting brakes. With blurred market distinctions between “shooting brake” and “station wagon,” the NIO ET5T is often considered a shooting brake. NIO ET5T Launched in 2023, it is the second truly popular new energy shooting brake after the Zeekr 001. It has long been NIO’s second‑best‑selling model, whether during the ES6’s peak or the new ES8’s popularity. The NIO ET5T’s strongest traits are its design and NIO Power Swap Station capability. Its elegant, low profile and Nordic‑style interior have earned wide praise online and in the market. The convenience of battery swapping and the associated battery‑leasing scheme have lowered purchase barriers. Rumors say the NIO ET5T will adopt the NT3.0 platform in 2027. If so, a substantially upgraded ET5T will be a strong contender in the 2027 shooting brake/station wagon market. The STELATO S9T is another shooting brake that outsells its brand’s earlier sedan. The STELATO S9T In February 2026, the STELATO S9T sold 2,935 units while the S9 sedan sold only 1,692—a gap of nearly 1,300 units. In December 2025, the gap was even wider: 7,186 units for the S9T versus just 1,629 for the S9, more than four times higher. Unlike most sporty shooting brakes, the STELATO S9T has a 5,160 mm length and 3,050 mm wheelbase, giving it an elongated, executive‑style look and generous interior space, with a 729L trunk. As a Huawei‑backed Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HUAWEI HIMA) model, its other strength is intelligence. A combination of Huawei ADS assisted driving with four lidars, Hongmeng cockpit, and Tuling platform appeals to buyers drawn to Huawei’s intelligent tech. The DENZA Z9GT is larger than the STELATO S9T. The DENZA Z9GT Nearly 5.2 meters long with a wheelbase over 3.1 meters, it is DENZA’s ambitious play in the premium market. Yet sales have hovered around 300 units monthly, with the pure electric version moving only 87 units in the past six months. In response, BYD used its March Megawatt fast charging launch to make the new DENZA Z9GT the first model with its second‑generation fast‑charging tech, claiming 10%–97% charge in 9 minutes. The more popular plug‑in hybrid version sees CLTC Battery‑efficient Driving Range (BEDR) rise to 401 km and combined range exceed 1,300 km. DENZA also sharply cut prices for the “well‑received but slow‑selling” model, starting at 269,800 yuan. Will this shift drive sales upward? Like Zeekr, AUDI—the joint venture brand of Audi and SAIC Motor—chose a shooting brake as its debut model. While the AUDI E5 Sportback embraces Chinese design and technology for intelligence, its main draw for consumers remains German tuning. The AUDI E5 Sportback The quattro flagship version delivers 800 N·m of maximum torque, with rear‑wheel steering (5.25 m turning radius), air suspension + CDC continuous damping control, and 647 km of CLTC Battery‑efficient Driving Range (BEDR)—matching Chinese brands in overall capability. Still, sales have been lukewarm. It only topped 1,700 units monthly from October to December 2025 before quickly dropping to 300–400 units, failing to sustain growth. To boost sales, AUDI announced incentives in February (valid through March 31): 10,000 yuan purchase tax subsidy and 20,000 yuan trade‑in subsidy, lowering the starting price to 205,900 yuan. Upcoming Models The AISTALAND GT7, set to launch in June 2026, is positioned as an intelligent shooting brake. AISTALAND GT7 If the STELATO S9T targets executive and family buyers, the AISTALAND GT7 aims to attract consumers focused on technology and performance. It will feature the world’s first mass‑produced 896‑line lidar, raising the theoretical ceiling of assisted driving. Paired with 6C Kirin batteries, the XMC digital chassis from the MAEXTRO S800, the debut Chitu platform, and three motors, it has built high expectations. Officially described as offering “million‑level handling, million‑level intelligence, and million‑level styling,” with a length of over five meters, market forecasts put its price in the 300,000‑yuan range. The main question now is whether the AISTALAND GT7 will compete head‑to‑head with the STELATO S9T. The SAIC Z7T is likely the most affordable model in Huawei‑backed Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HUAWEI HIMA)’s shooting brake lineup. The SAIC Z7T Priced pre‑sale at 239,800 yuan, it is similar in size to the AISTALAND GT7 and also comes standard with an 896‑line lidar. Its top trim may match the AISTALAND GT7 in assisted driving, with core differences in driving feel. The Z7T uses single‑ and dual‑motor setups: 264 kW for the single motor and 434 kW for the dual motor. Its announced CLTC Battery‑efficient Driving Range (BEDR) is 873 km. The AISTALAND GT7’s three‑motor layout and XMC digital chassis are expected to deliver stronger handling. The SAIC H5 got off to a slow start. Will the dual launch of the Z7 and Z7T lift SAIC’s sales? Avatr, entering its 2.0 strategic cooperation with Huawei QIANKUN, will launch its first shooting brake—the 06T. The Avatr 06T This model can produce nearly 1,000 horsepower. The pure electric four‑wheel‑drive triple‑motor version outputs 712 kW, and the rear‑drive dual‑motor version reaches 502 kW. A new 89.22 kWh ShenXing Superfast Charging Battery boosts CLTC Battery‑efficient Driving Range (BEDR) beyond 740 km. As a Huawei‑backed Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HUAWEI HIMA) model, the Avatr 06T also includes an 896‑line lidar, keeping assisted driving a key highlight. The current Avita 06 starts at 209,900 yuan. How much will the more powerful 06T—with larger dimensions, stronger performance, and upgraded driver‑assist hardware—cost? Is Spring Coming? In terms of sales, among launched shooting brakes, few besides the Zeekr 001 and NIO ET5T have achieved steady volume. Most are added as alternatives to sedan lineups. The successful ones—like the STELATO S9T and NIO ET5T—outperform their sedan counterparts and lift overall brand sales. Yet most models still struggle to exceed 1,000 units monthly. No matter how brands market these vehicles as “premium,” shooting brakes remain on the periphery of consumer attention. This is hardly a blue‑ocean market. That means high risk for carmakers betting on the shooting brake segment. Yet in this fiercely competitive market, everyone seems willing to gamble on potential. In 2026, as more players enter the shooting brake race, are automakers seeing an oncoming spring for this segment—or merely indulging wishful thinking? The market will have the final answer.
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