Chinese electric vehicle startup Leapmotor has signed a deal with state-owned automaker FAW to supply its EV platform for future Hongqi-branded electric vehicles aimed at overseas markets, marking a key step in Leapmotor’s international ambitions.
Executives from both companies confirmed the agreement during the Shanghai Auto Show, where Leapmotor showcased its latest mid-size sedan and electric SUV platforms. “We have finalised the partnership to jointly develop a model for overseas market,” Leapmotor CEO Zhu Jiangming told Reuters in an interview. He added that production is expected to begin in the second half of 2026.
The Hongqi model will reportedly be built on Leapmotor’s LEAP 3.5 platform, most likely the SUV variant used in the upcoming Leapmotor B10. A fully electric version and a range extender (EREV) are both under consideration, according to a source familiar with the matter. While the B10 starts at around €12,000 in China, the Hongqi-branded version will likely carry a higher price tag due to its premium positioning.
The cooperation builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in March between FAW and Leapmotor, which outlined a potential collaboration on future passenger cars. However, the new deal is the first public confirmation that Hongqi – a marque historically associated with China’s political elite – will adopt an external EV platform.
See also: Stellantis, Leapmotor to Begin EV Assembly in Malaysia to Support Southeast Asia Expansion
“The challenge with taking a platform from Leapmotor is making it into a cool, relevant, trendy, but good-looking Hongqi. It has to be Hongqi,” said Giles Taylor, chief designer at Hongqi and former Rolls-Royce design head. “I’ve got no problem taking the powertrain, but we apply a magic on top.”
Founded in 2015, Leapmotor has grown rapidly in China’s competitive EV sector. The Hongqi agreement highlights the startup’s growing technical credibility, with a legacy brand now leveraging its platform instead of relying solely on FAW Group’s internal technologies.
See also: Leapmotor Launches B10 Crossover in China, Undercutting BYD Atto 3 with 800V Tech and 600 km Range
Separately, Leapmotor is also reportedly in early-stage talks with Ferrari for a similar collaboration. According to Reuters, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna visited Leapmotor in February. While Ferrari has not confirmed the discussions, the company is independently developing its first electric model, set to debut in late 2025.
If realized, the Leapmotor-Ferrari partnership could further underscore the shifting dynamics of global EV development, as legacy automakers increasingly explore external partnerships to accelerate electrification.
