Chinese brand Leapmotor is set to join the New Zealand market with a pure-electric medium-large family SUV called C10 – and more to come.
Leapwhat? It’s a very new carmaker founded in 2015 by electrical engineer Zhu Jiangming, with a focus on self-produced components and technology (60% in the C10).
Last year, it entered a joint venture with global giant Stellantis (its brands include Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Opel and Peugeot), Leapmotor International, with a view to a worldwide presence.
In short, this is how Stellantis is taking on emerging Chinese brands: with its own emerging Chinese brand. It owns 51% of the new company and also has a 21% stake in Leapmotor's parent company.
Starting next month, Leapmotor International is starting an expansion through 200 points of sale in Europe, rising to 350 worldwide with the Middle East and Africa, South America, India and Asia Pacific – including NZ.
It’s being handled in NZ by Auto Distributors, an independent company already responsible for some (but not all) Stellantis brands here, including Peugeot, Citroen and Opel.
“New Zealand has certainly experienced its fair share of turbulence as successive governments establish the direction of EVs in NZ,” says ADNZ managing director Rick Armstrong. “It is critical we continue to embrace this technology and be part of this segment’s continual development in the NZ market.
“Manufacturing of EV product in China has expanded significantly over the last 10 years, the product being produced by Leapmotor is some of the best from across all brands; we're excited to be part of this global strategy”.
C10 will be the first for NZ: some cars are arriving next month for forward promotion, but sales proper won’t start until January 2025.
ADNZ is looking at everything else in Leapmotor’s product plan, which includes six new models set for launch in the next three years.
There’s a smaller-than-C10 SUV that will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show next month (likely to be called B10), and already on sale in China is a long-wheelbase 7-seat version of the C10 called C16.
However, ADNZ isn’t currently considering the TO3, a tiny city car that is part of the Leapmotor export plan for other markets and even being built in Europe by Stellantis: too small and too limited in range (just over 200km) for Kiwi tastes.
Leapmotor C10 Design specifications for NZ
The Leapmotor C10 is a medium-to-large SUV that will arrive in just one variant: Design. It’s powered by a single rear-mounted 160kW/320Nm e-motor with a 69.9kWh lithium ferro-phosphate (LFP) battery pack.
A range-extender version, using a petrol powerplant to help charge the battery, should follow very quickly after the battery electric model is established in 2025.
The C10 EV is constructed around cell-to-chassis (CTC) technology: the battery is completely integrated into the structure of the car. WLTP range is 420km.
Maximum DC charge rate isn’t massive at 84kW, but its maker claims 30-80% can still be achieved in approximately 30 minutes, while equivalent AC charging will take just over six hours at 6.6kW. Mode 2 and 3 charging cables are included and the C10 has vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, meaning it can power/charge external devices.
Four drive modes are available: Eco, Comfort, Sport and Custom.
The Design wears 20-inch wheels and features an “immersive” 14.6-inch high-definition central display, heated/ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, multi-colour ambient lighting and panoramic glass roof.
The Leapmotor-developed “Four-Leaf Clover” electronic architecture controls the powertrain, body and cabin systems. The vehicle is live and will offer over the air (OTA) updates.
There’s a specific Leapmotor mobile phone app with Bluetooth digital-key support, real time car location, and remote air-conditioning control. In addition, drivers can log into embedded apps like Spotify, TikTok, and Zoom via the central vehicle display; these apps run independently of smartphone connection via the inbuilt 4G SIM card.
Users will also have a Leapmotor keycard, which employs Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to unlock the vehicle.
“Intelligent rhythmic ambient lighting” works in harmony with the surround audio system when using Bluetooth audio and embedded apps. The audio setup has 12 speakers, 840W and four audio modes: Enjoy, Surround, Theatre, and Dynamic.
Cargo volume is 483l when all seats are upright, expanding to 1410l when the second-row seats are folded. Leapmotor says the interior has 26 different storage spaces and 180-degree flat-fold seating.
The front armrest box allows for the storage of smaller items as well as concealed USB ports and a wireless charging pad.
The company says the Oeko-Tex silicone seating has been tested for harmful substances and the company claims it sets the benchmark for textile safety and skin sensitivity.
The C10 has a 4-year, 100,000km warranty on the vehicle and an 8-year, 160,000km high-voltage battery warranty.
How much will the Leapmotor C10 cost?
Sales will start in the main centres, with further location announcements expected in October and mainstream sales kicking off for 2025.
ADNZ has not shared local pricing but Leapmotor International has made it clear the C10 is a mainstream proposition: “volume-centric segments at competitive prices”. Expect it to be right in the ballpark with the likes of the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and BYD Sealion 6.
Aren't EV sales on a slowdown?
“We haven’t landed on pricing yet, but we’re pleasantly surprised how competitive the car can be,” says ADNZ managing director Rick Armstrong. “We were a bit pessimistic about EV pricing [in NZ]; it’s more competitive than it should be, because there’s massive oversupply of vehicles that have become cheap because everybody’s just clearing them and losing money.
“Once that’s solved, and the cars are through the system that used to be $75-80k, and are now $50-55k, there will be a new wave. They’ll sit in a price band that I think will be owned by the Chinese for the foreseeable future.
“We’re only interested in bringing a brand that’s going to be good and competitive. We looked at Leap and it’s fiercely competitive in China, with sales increasing month after month.
“It’s a good car, it’s connected to Stellantis and we’ve been distributors here for some of the other brands. I think this is going to be a bright future. I’m optimistic about volume."