Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer Leapmotor, supported by Stellantis NV, achieved a significant milestone in August with record vehicle deliveries, largely attributed to the success of its new C16 model.
Leapmotor delivered 30,305 vehicles last month, marking the first instance in the company’s history of surpassing 30,000 deliveries in a single month. This represents a substantial 113.57 percent increase from 14,190 vehicles delivered in August of the previous year and a 37.17 percent rise from 22,093 units in July.
The new C16 SUV played a major role in this achievement, contributing over 8,000 units to the total, according to company data. Since the beginning of the year, Leapmotor has delivered 139,094 vehicles, reflecting a 90.47 percent year-on-year increase. As of the end of August, the companyâs cumulative deliveries have reached 444,918 vehicles.
The Leapmotor C16, launched on June 28, is available in both battery electric vehicle (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) variants. The EREV model is priced starting from RMB 155,800 ($21,970) for the base option, up to RMB 179,800 for the top variant, making it significantly more affordable compared to Li Auto’s (NASDAQ: LI) comparable six-seat SUV, the Li L8. The BEV variant starts at RMB 161,800, with higher-tier options available.
Leapmotor had initially projected the C16 to deliver around 2,000 units in July and exceed 5,000 units in August. The company reported that orders for the C16 surpassed 10,000 units within its first month on the market.
Founded in 2015, Leapmotor began as a manufacturer of BEV models and expanded into EREV models in 2022. The company is collaborating with Stellantis to enter international markets. Leapmotor plans to unveil its B10 model, based on a new platform, at the Paris Motor Show in the fourth quarter, targeting younger consumers.