New Leapmotor B10 promises affordability and superior performance
Leapmotor, the Chinese car firm backed by Stellantis, has revealed its new B10 at the Paris Motor Show. The compact SUV will rival the likes of the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric, sitting beneath Leapmotor’s £36,500 C10 SUV.
Pricing is yet to be announced for the B10, but we expect a starting price in the region of £30,000. It should join the line-up in 2025, given that the company has promised it will introduce one new model every year for the next three years.
Unlike the T03 all-electric city car, the B10 shares plenty of its design language with the C10. The headlights incorporate three individual LED units and are connected via a black piece of trim, as on the C10. There’s also smooth surfacing all the way down the side with flush-fitting door handles and a light bar at the rear.
Under the metal, the B10 uses Leapmotor’s new B platform and its latest ‘Leap 3.5’ electrical architecture. This technology will serve as the underpinnings for a variety of new models that Leapmotor is planning to launch in 2025, which we should learn more about at Paris. Technical details including range and power figures of the B10 are yet to be announced.
The interior is yet to be revealed as well, though given the exterior we expect it to take influence from the C10. That would mean a minimalist cabin with a heavy focus on a central touchscreen.
The Leapmotor brand was founded in 2015 and has grown to become one of the largest EV start-ups in China. It’s now targeting Europe thanks to a joint venture with the Stellantis Group, which operates several major brands including Citroen, Peugeot, Vauxhall, Alfa Romeo and Maserati.
Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, said of the collaboration, “Together with Leapmotor, we are making hi-tech, affordable electric mobility accessible to consumers beyond Greater China. Our combined strengths allow us to bring innovative solutions to the market quickly and effectively.”
The B10, like other Leapmotor cars, will be sold at existing Stellantis-backed dealerships.
Tianshu Xin, CEO of Leapmotor International, emphasised the importance of having the Stellantis dealerships ready to take on Leapmotor products, “Leapmotor International may be a start-up, but it’s a start-up with two incredibly strong parents. We are leveraging the strength of the Stellantis network, which gives us an unmatched advantage in terms of service and distribution across Europe and beyond.”
