Leapmotor has opened its first overseas innovation center in Munich, Germany, marking a step in its efforts to globalize design and product development as it expands internationally.
The facility, located in Schwabing-Freimann in northern Munich, will oversee design iterations and the conceptual development of future models. The company said the move reflects a shift from exporting vehicles to exporting design capabilities, as it integrates international design concepts into its product strategy.
Leapmotor now operates a global design network spanning Munich, Hangzhou and Shanghai, supporting its broader ambitions in overseas markets. The expansion comes amid rising export volumes, with the company reporting 67,052 units shipped abroad in 2025, ranking it among the leading Chinese emerging EV brands. By the end of February 2026, cumulative exports had exceeded 100,000 units, placing the company among the top three Chinese brands in pure electric vehicle sales in Europe.
The company is also advancing its European manufacturing plans, including a completely knocked down (CKD) project in Spain. Leapmotor plans to introduce the B10 and B05 models in the region, with the B10 already entering the off-tooling sample (OTS) phase and expected to begin commercial production in October 2026. The B05 is scheduled to start trial production in June 2026, with full production targeted for 2027.
Backed by Stellantis, Leapmotor recently reported its first full-year profit, posting a net income of 540 million yuan ($78.4 million) in 2025. Annual revenue rose 101.3% year-on-year to 64.73 billion yuan, while vehicle deliveries more than doubled to 596,555 units.
The company is targeting deliveries of more than 1 million vehicles in 2026, supported by new model launches including the A10, which will be marketed overseas as the B03X. The model is expected to be introduced in China in March before expanding to nearly 40 global markets.