Leapmotor — the electric car maker that joined Stellantis
Leapmotor is a Chinese maker of electric and range-extender cars, founded in December 2015 as Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology with the security-camera company Dahua Technology. It is unusual among new car makers in building most of its own parts, from motors to control computers. Its first car went on sale in 2019. In October 2023 Stellantis agreed to buy about 20 per cent of the company for €1.5 billion (2023), and their joint venture, Leapmotor International, now sells Leapmotor cars in Europe and builds some of them in Spain.
Key takeaways
- Leapmotor was founded in December 2015 with controlling shareholder Fu Liquan, director Zhu Jiangming and Dahua Technology.
- Sales grew from about 1,000 cars in 2019 to 293,724 in 2024 and 596,555 in 2025.
- Stellantis owns 51 per cent of Leapmotor International, set up in May 2024 for sales and production outside China.
- The C10 SUV was the first Leapmotor designed for global markets; the B10 is built in Zaragoza, Spain.
Leapmotor at a glance
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology |
| Founded | December 2015 |
| Founders | Fu Liquan (controlling shareholder), Zhu Jiangming, with Dahua Technology |
| Brand launch | March 2017 |
| Partner | Stellantis (about 20 per cent from 2023; Leapmotor International 51:49) |
| In-house parts | Motors, vehicle computers, LED lighting; 65 per cent of components (2026) |
| Main models | T03, C11, C10, C16, B10, B01 |
| Sales | 293,724 (2024); 596,555 (2025) |
Founding and the first cars, 2015–2020
Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology was founded in December 2015. The controlling shareholder was Fu Liquan, and the company was set up together with the director Zhu Jiangming and Dahua Technology. The Leapmotor brand was launched in March 2017, and in November 2017 it showed its first product, the S01 electric coupé.
From the start the company wanted to make its own technology. In June 2018, at CES Asia, it announced the "Lingxin 01" AI chip, developed with Dahua. In October 2018 it planned three models for 2018–2021: the S01, the T03 and the C11.
The S01 went on sale in China in June 2019, and about 1,000 Leapmotors were sold that year. The second model was much more important. The T03, a small electric city car, was launched on 11 May 2020. It is 3,620 mm long, weighs 1,087 to 1,122 kg and uses motors of 40 to 85 kW. In China it sold 40,245 in 2021 and 66,884 in 2024. The NEDC range of the largest battery is 403 km.
The C-series SUVs and range extenders
The C11 crossover, revealed at Auto Guangzhou in December 2020 and on sale from 28 September 2021, took Leapmotor into the family SUV class. A range-extender version followed. It combines a 200 kW (272 PS) motor with a 43.74 kWh battery and a petrol generator, for about 170 km of electric range on the Chinese CLTC cycle. The C11 passed 250,000 sales on 5 June 2025.
The range grew quickly:
| Model | Introduced | Type |
|---|---|---|
| S01 | 2019 | Electric coupé |
| T03 | May 2020 | Electric city car |
| C11 | December 2020 (sale 2021) | Mid-size SUV, electric or range extender |
| C01 | May 2022 | Mid-size saloon |
| C10 | September 2023 | SUV for global markets |
| C16 | April 2024 | SUV |
| B10 | October 2024 | SUV on the LEAP 3.5 platform |
| B01 | April 2025 | Second model of the B series |
Annual sales show how fast it went: 11,391 in 2020, 43,121 in 2021, 111,168 in 2022, 144,155 in 2023, 293,724 in 2024 and 596,555 in 2025. In 2026 Leapmotor made 65 per cent of its components in-house and aimed for 80 per cent.
Stellantis and Leapmotor International
In October 2023 Stellantis agreed to buy about 20 per cent of Leapmotor for €1.5 billion (2023). In May 2024 the two set up Leapmotor International, a joint venture 51 per cent owned by Stellantis and 49 per cent by Leapmotor, to sell and build the cars outside China through Stellantis dealers.
The first European production was short-lived. Stellantis started building the T03 at its plant in Tychy, Poland, in June 2024. Poland then voted in line with the EU tariffs on electric cars made in China, which put the project in doubt, and T03 production in Poland ended in March 2025.
The C10 became the main export model. It was first shown at the 2023 Munich Motor Show and launched in China in March 2024. It went on sale in European markets from September 2024 as the first Leapmotor designed for global markets. The electric version has a 69.9 kWh battery and a 160 kW (218 PS) motor for about 420 km WLTP. The range-extender version quotes a total WLTP range of 950 km. In the 2024 Euro NCAP test the C10 scored 89 per cent for adult occupants.
The B10 and production in Spain
The B10 SUV made its international debut at the 2024 Paris Motor Show and was the first car on Leapmotor's LEAP 3.5 platform. Chinese deliveries began on 10 April 2025, and the first cars for Europe were shipped in late August 2025. Power ranges from 132 to 180 kW (179 to 245 PS), with LFP batteries of 56.2 to 69.7 kWh. Euro NCAP rated it in 2025 with 93 per cent for adult and child occupants.
Stellantis planned to start B10 production at its plant in Zaragoza, Spain, in January 2026. In May 2026 Stellantis and Leapmotor also announced an Opel-branded SUV based on the B10, to be built at the same Figueruelas plant. Meanwhile FAW, which had a partnership with Leapmotor since May 2020, agreed in December 2025 to buy 5 per cent of the company, and the Stellantis stake fell from 19.99 to 18.99 per cent.
The Leapmotor models on 1cars are in the Leapmotor catalogue, and the main export SUV has its own page on the Leapmotor C10, electric and range extender. The partner brand that will build a B10-based SUV is in the Opel catalogue. For rival cars, see the best electric SUVs and the best plug-in hybrid SUVs.
Leapmotor timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology founded (December) |
| 2017 | Brand launched (March); S01 shown (November) |
| 2018 | Lingxin 01 chip announced with Dahua (June) |
| 2019 | S01 on sale; about 1,000 cars sold |
| 2020 | T03 launched (11 May); C11 revealed (December) |
| 2021 | C11 on sale (28 September) |
| 2022 | C01 saloon |
| 2023 | C10 shown in Munich; Stellantis agrees to buy about 20 per cent (October) |
| 2024 | Leapmotor International formed (May); T03 built in Tychy; C10 in Europe |
| 2025 | T03 production in Poland ends (March); B10 deliveries begin; 596,555 sales |
| 2026 | B10 production planned in Zaragoza |
Landmark Leapmotor models
| Model | Years | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| S01 | 2019 | First Leapmotor, an electric coupé |
| T03 | From 2020 | Small electric city car; briefly built in Poland |
| C11 | From 2021 | First SUV; more than 250,000 sold by June 2025 |
| C10 | From 2024 | First model designed for global markets |
| B10 | From 2025 | LEAP 3.5 platform; built in Spain |
Photo gallery
FAQ
Who owns Leapmotor?
Fu Liquan was the controlling shareholder at the founding. Stellantis agreed to buy about 20 per cent in 2023 (18.99 per cent after a FAW investment in 2025), and it owns 51 per cent of the export joint venture Leapmotor International.
Where are Leapmotor cars built?
Mainly in China. The T03 was built in Tychy, Poland, from June 2024 to March 2025, and the B10 is planned for Stellantis' plant in Zaragoza, Spain.
What is a Leapmotor range extender?
A car driven only by electric motors, with a small petrol engine that works as a generator. The C10 range-extender version quotes a total WLTP range of 950 km.
When did Leapmotor come to Europe?
Sales through Stellantis dealers began in September 2024; the C10 went on sale in nine European markets that month.
How many cars does Leapmotor sell?
596,555 in 2025, up from 293,724 in 2024.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Leapmotor (accessed 24 Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia — Leapmotor C10 (accessed 24 Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia — Leapmotor T03 (accessed 24 Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia — Leapmotor B10 (accessed 24 Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia — Leapmotor C11 (accessed 24 Oct 2026)
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