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Leapmotor Cars

EV · 5 models

Leapmotor

Leapmotor: Value-Focused Chinese EVs Going Global

EV

Leapmotor is a Chinese electric vehicle brand built around affordable technology-rich cars, now expanding internationally through a landmark partnership with Stellantis.

Leapmotor models we cover

B10
B10
C10
C10
C11
C11
C16
C16
T03
T03

Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Hangzhou, China, Leapmotor set out to develop EVs with strong tech content at prices that undercut established rivals. The company designs its own core components including battery systems, electric motors, and intelligent driving software, which it calls a "full-domain self-research" approach. That vertical integration lets Leapmotor keep costs low while offering features like advanced driver assistance, large touchscreens, and over-the-air updates as standard across its lineup.

In 2023, Stellantis acquired a roughly 20 percent stake in Leapmotor and the two companies formed a joint venture called Leapmotor International to handle sales outside China. The venture launched in Europe in late 2024 with the T03 city hatchback and the C10 midsize SUV, marking one of the most direct partnerships between a legacy Western automaker and a Chinese EV startup. Stellantis provides its dealer network, homologation expertise, and manufacturing footprint, while Leapmotor contributes affordable EV platforms including both pure battery-electric and extended-range hybrid drivetrains.

The Leapmotor lineup spans compact city cars to three-row family SUVs, with most models available in battery-electric form and several offered as extended-range EVs (EREV) that pair a small petrol generator with an electric drivetrain for greater range flexibility. Prices in Europe start well below comparable Chinese and Western rivals, positioning Leapmotor as a disruptive value brand in markets where EV adoption has been slowed by high purchase costs. With new models like the B10 and C16 rolling out globally, the brand is building toward a full product portfolio aimed at mainstream buyers.

Frequently asked questions about Leapmotor

Who owns Leapmotor?
Leapmotor is a publicly listed Chinese automaker founded in 2015. Stellantis purchased around 20 percent of the company in 2023 and the two formed Leapmotor International, a joint venture that handles sales, marketing, and distribution outside China.
Where are Leapmotor cars sold outside China?
Leapmotor International launched in Europe in late 2024, initially offering the T03 hatchback and C10 SUV through Stellantis dealer networks in multiple European countries. Additional markets and models are planned as the global rollout continues.
What is an EREV and which Leapmotor models have one?
An extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) uses a small petrol engine solely as a generator to recharge the battery; the wheels are always driven electrically. Leapmotor offers EREV variants of the C10, C11, and C16, giving buyers greater range flexibility alongside the standard battery-electric versions.
Are Leapmotor cars cheap compared to rivals?
Yes. Leapmotor positions itself as a value brand. In Europe the T03 and C10 launched at prices noticeably below comparable EVs from both Chinese and Western competitors. The low cost comes from in-house development of motors, batteries, and software rather than buying those systems from third-party suppliers.
Does Leapmotor make its own batteries and motors?
Leapmotor calls its strategy full-domain self-research, meaning it develops its own electric motors, battery packs, power electronics, and intelligent driving software in-house. This approach reduces reliance on outside suppliers and is a key reason the brand can offer competitive specifications at lower price points.

Leapmotor on the WhipJury blog

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