Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer Leapmotor, backed by Stellantis NV, will begin pre-sales of its B10 SUV on March 10, aiming to bring advanced intelligent driving technology to a more budget-friendly price segment, the company announced on Weibo.
The Leapmotor B10 will be the automaker’s first model priced under RMB 150,000 ($20,520) to feature LiDAR, enabling smart driving capabilities in urban environments. The model, which made its international debut at the Paris Auto Show in October and its China debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show in November, is built on the company’s Leap 3.5 architecture and marks the first vehicle in Leapmotor’s new B-series lineup.
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With dimensions comparable to the BMW X1, the compact SUV is expected to compete with rivals such as the Aito M5 and Nio Onvo L60. Leapmotor had previously stated that the B10 would be priced between RMB 100,000 and RMB 150,000, targeting the world’s largest market segment.
The unveiling of the B10’s smart driving features comes amid increasing competition in China’s intelligent vehicle sector. On February 10, BYD introduced its vehicle intelligence strategy, offering smart driving systems for free across its lineup. The initiative includes updates for 10 Dynasty models and 11 Ocean models, such as the Seagull, which starts at RMB 69,800 ($9,540).
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Leapmotor’s January deliveries stood at 25,170 units, down 40.8% from December’s 42,517 but up 105.02% from the same period last year, according to company data. Since its inception, the automaker has delivered 624,718 vehicles.