Leapmotor
TypePublic
SEHK: 9863
IndustryAutomotive
FoundedDecember 2015 (December 2015)
FounderFu Liquan, Zhu Jiangming
HeadquartersHangzhou, Zhejiang, China
OwnerStellantis (20%)
SubsidiariesLeapmotor International (49%)
Websitewww.leapmotor.com

Leapmotor (Chinese: 零跑; simplified Chinese: 零跑汽车; traditional Chinese: 零跑汽車; pinyin: Líng pǎo qìchē; lit. 'Leap car') is a Chinese automobile manufacturer headquartered in Hangzhou, China, specializing in developing electric vehicles.

History

Zhu Jiangming (2023)

Leapmotor was founded in December 2015 and is based in Hangzhou, China.

On June 13, 2018, at CES Asia, Leapmotor announced that the first domestically made artificial intelligence (AI) chip, dubbed “Lingxin 01” has entered the integration verification phase. The AI chip was co-developed by Leapmotor and Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co., Ltd (Dahua Technology), and was expected to be tested on vehicles in the second quarter of 2019. The Lingxin 01 is designed for autonomous vehicles, and features the capability of deep learning and leading computing power.[1] The company vertically integrates high margin components by developing and building its own components such as electric traction motors, vehicle CPU, and LED lighting.[2]

In October 2018, Leapmotor announced plans to roll out 3 new models over the span of 2018 to 2021, including the LP-S01, the LP-T03 and the LP-C11, based on the S, T and C vehicle platform respectively.[3]

In June 2019, the first product, the Leapmotor S01 electric 2-door coupe, is launched on the Chinese market. A prototype was shown at the 2017 Guangzhou Auto Show. At that time, the company had raised RMB 380 million in capital, and construction of the factory had started. The S01 was initially shown as the LP-S01 coupe earlier in 2018.[4] The first deliveries occurred of the S01 in June 2019.[5][6]

In May 2020, Leapmotor and state-owned Chinese automaker FAW forged a strategic partnership to jointly develop intelligent electric vehicle models. The agreement also involves the joint cooperation on R&D, manufacture, production and application of intelligent electric vehicle core parts, and the further research on the development of key basic technologies and the innovation of production measures.[7]

On May 11, 2020, Leapmotor officially launched its second mass-production EV, the Leapmotor T03 electric city car. The vehicle was launched with a total of 3 models, the price range after subsidy is 65,800-75,800 yuan (~US $9,280 – US $10,691). The Leapmotor T03 is equipped with a battery pack with a capacity of 36.5 kWh, and a 403 km (250 mi) NEDC cruising range.[8]

In November 2020, Leapmotor officially launched the third mass-production EV, the Leapmotor C11 electric crossover, based on the 2019 C-More concept. The C11 is powered by dual electric motors jointly rated at 400 kW (536 hp) and 720 N⋅m (73.4 kg⋅m; 531 lb⋅ft) of torque. The Leapmotor C11 have around 600 km (373 mi) of driving range.[9]

Expansion and cooperation with Stellantis

In August 2023, the Chinese subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, FAW-VW, initiated talks with Leapmotor in order to potentially acquire a platform for building new electric cars of the Jetta brand intended for the Chinese market.[10] In October of the same year, the competing international conglomerate Stellantis in turn formalized its interest in the Chinese startup Leapmotor by acquiring a 20% stake worth approximately EUR 1.5 billion.

As part of the cooperation, an agreement on strategic and extensive cooperation was signed, under which a company joint-venture Leapmotor International was established with a 51:49 share division.[11] In this way, it will be possible to distribute and produce Leapmotor cars on global markets outside China, providing easier conditions for the company's planned expansion. This was announced by the European premiere at IAA Mobility 2023 in September, during which the first global product was presented - the large SUV Leapmotor C10.[12]

Vehicles

Current models

Model Photo Specifications
S01

Body style: Sports car

Class: (S) Sport compact

Doors: 2

Seats: 2

Battery: 35.6 kWh (380 and 380 Pro) or 48 kWh (460 and 460 Pro) Li-ion

Production: June 2019[13]–2021

Revealed: November 2017 (Auto Guangzhou)[14]

T03

Body style: Hatchback

Class: (A) City car

Doors: 5

Seats: 4

Battery: 21.6 kWh, 31.9 kWh, 38 kWh or 41 kWh Li-ion

Production: May 2020–present[15]

Revealed: March 2020

C11

Body style: stationwagon

Class: (J) Mid-size SUV

Doors: 5

Seats: 5

Battery: 30.1 kWh (EREV 180), 43.74 kWh (EREV 285), 69.2 kWh (500), 89.55 kWh (650) or 89.97 kWh (580 AWD) Li-ion

Production: 2021 to present

Revealed: December 2020 (Auto Guangzhou)[16]

C01

Body style: Sedan

Class: (D) Mid-size sedan

Doors: 4

Seats: 5

Battery: 62.8 kWh (525), 78.54 kWh (606) or 90 kWh (717 and 630 AWD) Li-ion

Production: 2022 to present

Revealed: May 2022[17]

C10 Body style: stationwagon

Class: (J) Full size SUV

Doors: 5

Seats: 5-7

Battery:

Production: to commence

Revealed: September 2023 (2023 Munich Motor Show)[18]

Leapmotor C01 is the first electric vehicle with battery cells directly integrated in the underbody.[19]

Concept vehicles

Leapmotor has revealed 1 concept vehicle.

Model Photo Specifications
C-More

Body style: Crossover SUV

Class: (J) Mid-size

Doors: 5

Seats: 7

Battery:

Revealed: April 2019 (Auto Shanghai)[20]

Sales

Year Sales
2019 1,000
2020 10,266
2021 43,121
2022 111,168
2023 144,155

See also

References

  1. "Leapmotor announces China's first homegrown autonomous driving AI chip". Autonews.gasgoo.com. June 14, 2018.
  2. "The Big Read: Story of Leapmotor". CarNewsChina.com. 14 November 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  3. "Leapmotor to roll out 3 new models over next 3 years". Autonews.gasgoo.com. October 24, 2018.
  4. "Leap Motor LP-S01 – chiński elektryczny samochód sportowy [FOTO] • SAMOCHODY ELEKTRYCZNE". Elektrowoz.pl. November 10, 2017.
  5. "Startup LeapMotor kicks off delivery of the S01 all-electric coupe on June 28". Autonews.gasgoo.com.
  6. "Leapmotor's First Coupe EV S01 Start to Deliver". Chinapev.com. July 1, 2019.
  7. "Startup Leapmotor, FAW Car to jointly develop smart EV models". Autonews.gasgoo.com. May 9, 2020.
  8. "Chinese EV Startup Leapmotor Listed its 2nd EV, Leapmotor T03 goes on market". Chinapev.com. May 12, 2020.
  9. "Meet the Leap C11, a dual-motor e-SUV slated for Guangzhou show premiere". Formacar.com. November 1, 2020.
  10. "VW Group Interested In Leapmotor EV Platform For Jetta Brand: Report". Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  11. "Stellantis rozpoczyna współpracę z Leapmotor. To chiński producent samochodów elektrycznych" (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  12. "Leapmotor C10 unveiled in IAA Mobility as the brand's first global model". Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  13. "Leapmotor's First Coupe EV S01 Start to Deliver". Chinapev.com. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  14. "Leap Motor LP-S01 Electric Sportscar Unveiled in China". Carnewschina.com. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  15. "Chinese EV Startup Leapmotor Listed its 2nd EV, Leapmotor T03 goes on market". Chinapev.com. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  16. "Meet the Leap C11, a dual-motor e-SUV slated for Guangzhou show premiere". Formacar.com. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  17. Zhang/CnEVPost, Phate (2022-05-11). "Leapmotor unveils C01 sedan with cell to chassis technology". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  18. Zhang/CnEVPost, Phate (2023-09-04). "Leapmotor unveils 1st global model, C10, in Germany". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  19. "Leapmotor beats Tesla to unveil first EV with cell-to-chassis battery tech as CATL speeds up its development". January 5, 2022.
  20. "LEAPMOTOR Brought Its First Electric SUV C-More to 2019 Shanghai Auto Show". Chinapev.com. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
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