Chinese language electrical car (EV) upstart Leapmotor has daring plans for its international mannequin rollout and says it hopes to be jostling with the likes of BYD and MG globally quickly, however solely within the realm of EVs.
Leapmotor was solely based in 2015, and it wasn’t till 2019 that it started producing its first autos. It solely provides EVs and extended-range electrical autos (EREVs), however its efforts to promote autos in markets like Europe and Australia are operated by a joint-venture subsidiary often known as Leapmotor Worldwide.
Automotive conglomerate Stellantis, which owns manufacturers like Jeep, Ram, Peugeot, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat, holds a 51 per cent controlling stake in Leapmotor Worldwide – presenting a major alternative for the Chinese language upstart to grow to be the best-selling model underneath the Stellantis umbrella, notably in Australia.
However when Leapmotor Worldwide CEO Tianshu Xin was requested about that potential, he mentioned that “it doesn’t need to be best-selling among the many Stellantis household.”
“Our imaginative and prescient is to be the highest three in every single place, in each market we play, amongst Chinese language gamers – EV gamers as a result of we solely do the brand new power autos. Leapmotor don’t do inner combustion [vehicles],” he mentioned.
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Leapmotor C10
Turning into a top-three Chinese language EV model in a market like Australia would put Leapmotor up there with BYD and MG. Within the first quarter of 2025, MG led the best way with 1950 EV gross sales, whereas BYD positioned an in depth second with 1848.
The third hottest EV model born in China was Zeekr, with 211 gross sales, although the Chinese language-owned Volvo and Polestar manufacturers have been forward of it with 718 and 389 EV gross sales respectively. Chinese language-built Teslas have been nonetheless on prime of all these manufacturers by a substantial margin, nevertheless.
Leapmotor, in the meantime, solely managed 138 gross sales in the identical interval, although it’s far too early for that to be a consultant determine. It additionally solely has one mannequin on sale in Australia thus far, the C10 mid-size SUV.
So far as turning into the best-selling Stellantis model in Australia is anxious, Leapmotor doesn’t have a very excessive hurdle to clear.
The highest-selling Stellantis model regionally thus far in 2025 is Ram, with 768 gross sales recorded within the first quarter. Jeep is subsequent with 529, then Peugeot with 373.
Even so, Mr Xin says there’s a deal with competitors outdoors of the Stellantis group, and Leapmotor has a major position in its international efforts.
He mentioned Stellantis is ready to present a longtime community by which Leapmotor can increase and, in return, Leapmotor can function a “weapon” for Stellantis to sort out the quite a few different EV manufacturers on sale globally.
“For the Stellantis group household to compete with these new gamers from China, among the finest methods is to make use of Leapmotor to compete with them,” Mr Xin mentioned.
“So we think about Leapmotor a further weapon for [the] Stellantis household to compete with these new gamers. So [EVs are] the phase we’re specializing in, plus the power transition somehow goes to occur.
“It’s not a query of if it’s going to occur, the query is when it’s going to occur. China is possibly in the meanwhile somewhat bit forward of the remainder of the world, however the remainder of the world goes to catch up somehow. It’s only a matter of time.”
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