Leapmotor will introduce a new flagship model under its upcoming D-series lineup, marking a strategic move into the higher-priced segment of China’s competitive EV market.
Two senior executives confirmed on social media platform Weibo that the first model in the D-series will be a full-size sport utility vehicle (SUV). It will become Leapmotor’s most expensive product to date, priced around RMB 300,000 ($41,840), and is expected to offer both battery electric vehicle (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) options.
The announcement follows a post by automotive blogger @拉面师傅Design, who shared renderings of the new model, calling it “the largest full-size SUV in the Chinese market this year.” Leapmotor Chief Operating Officer Xu Jun reposted the blog, confirming the SUV will be the brand’s first D-series flagship.
Senior Vice President Cao Li also responded to the post, saying, “The first model in the D series is more advanced than the renderings released by the blogger.” He added, “This is Leapmotor’s first flagship product targeting the RMB 300,000 price segment, positioned as a full-size SUV, and will feature the company’s, if not the industry’s, most advanced technologies.”
Cao also dismissed comparisons that frame Leapmotor as a low-cost alternative to other domestic rivals. “Leapmotor is not ‘half-price Li Auto’ as some have labeled it,” he said, noting the new SUV has entered its summer testing phase and will be unveiled soon.
Leapmotor currently markets models such as the T03, B10, B01, C01, C10, C11, and C16 in China. The C-series models are the company’s most premium offerings to date, though typically priced lower than competitors like Li Auto and Tesla. The lower-cost B-series includes the recently launched B01, which starts at RMB 89,800 and competes on size and value.
