Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) startup Leapmotor has announced plans to export its vehicles starting from the third quarter of this year, targeting sales of 6,000-10,000 units overseas. The company’s vehicles will be available in Europe, South America, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, and Africa.
Leapmotor’s international expansion is facilitated by an agreement reached with Italian automaker Stellantis in October. The agreement established a joint venture with exclusive rights for the export, sale, and manufacturing of Leapmotor vehicles outside China.
See also: Stellantis Considers Producing Leapmotor EVs at Fiat’s Historic Mirafiori Plant in Turin
Zhu Jiangming, founder and CEO of Leapmotor, commented on the progress of the collaboration, stating, “We have established an international team in the past few months.” He also mentioned that the company will adopt the same marketing approach in overseas markets as in China, offering comprehensive service systems that include financial and insurance services. Zhu acknowledged that while the initial setup of the sales network may take some time, once completed, it will grow quickly.
With the collaborative background with Stellantis, Leapmotor aims to “rapidly acquire more and higher-quality channel resources, including distribution systems for components, service networks, and the market,” Zhu said. He emphasized that this strategic partnership will enable the company to improve efficiency and reduce costs in various aspects.
See also: Leapmotor Launches C10 SUV With Starting Price at $17,900, Available in BEV and EREV Versions
Leapmotor plans to establish more than 200 sales outlets overseas this year. The first model to be exported will be the C10 SUV, which officially launched in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Saturday. The C10 SUV, priced from 128,800 yuan ($17,890), offers seven pure electric and range-extended versions and has secured more than 45,000 orders since presales began in mid-January.
As Leapmotor’s first global model built upon the Leap 3.0 technical architecture, the C10 features the Qualcomm 8295 chip, integrating cockpit and driving functions such as an audio digital signal processor, parking assistance, and a 360-degree surround view, a first in the industry. The model also incorporates components such as laser radar and the Nvidia Orin-X chip.
