Leapmotor, a Chinese company specializing in new energy vehicles (NEVs), backed by Stellantis, has launched its all-electric B10 SUV. The compact SUV was unveiled at a special event in China with a starting price of 99,800 CNY, approximately $13,590 USD. Within just one hour of its release, the company received over 10,000 orders for the BEV version.
The Leap B10 is a five-seater crossover and is considered affordable given its pricing. Thanks to China, many electric vehicles have become accessible to various segments of people.
The vehicle is built on the advanced LEAP 3.5 platform and is slightly larger than the BYD Atto 3. It is equipped with an LFP battery pack available in several options:
56.2 kWh with an electric range of 510 km according to CLTC standards
67.1 kWh with an electric range of 600 km according to CLTC standards
Charging the battery from 30% to 80% takes approximately 19 minutes. Notably, the higher versions of the Leap B10, known as the Smart Driver Edition, come equipped with ATX LiDAR technology, making them among the most affordable Chinese models with this feature.
The electric motor is located on the rear axle. In China, there are five versions available; the base model features a motor producing 132 kW (177 hp) and 175 Nm of torque. The other four models feature a motor delivering 160 kW (214.5 hp) and 240 Nm of torque.
As for the availability in GCC markets, it depends on the market of each country, and the cars they import. Since it has already been launched, we expect it to arrive soon.
Leapmotor announced that their smart driving program will be standard in eligible vehicles and customers who pre-ordered will receive a refund for what was previously an optional feature.
Leapmotor's C-series also achieved high sales, and similar success is anticipated for their B-series models. The B10 will not be alone in this series as more models are planned.
Leapmotor cars are available in UAE markets despite having no official dealer there; they can be purchased from various importers at prices ranging from AED 40,000 to AED 110,000 (maybe more, maybe less) depending on availability.
Although Leapmotor was founded in 2015 and began sales in 2019, Stellantis acquired a 20% stake in it. They plan to expand into European markets soon. This is a sign that the company is planning to compete according to European standards, which will make it more trust-worthy to many users in various markets.
Speaking of Stellantis, they are facing challenges due to tariffs imposed by Trump and are considering selling Maserati and possibly Alfa Romeo as their sales plummeted dramatically over the past two years. The two Italian automakers are not the only issue that Stellantis is facing; the whole company has been struggling in the recent years due to many factors, among which is the difficulty to adapt with the quick shift towards EV in the automotive field (the problem many giant automakers are facing), and the fierce competition with the Chinese EVs and cars that are offering numerous appealing features with competitive prices.
