Multiple new electric cars on the cards for Leapmotor Australia

Incoming Chinese brand Leapmotor has hinted five new models and/or multiple variants are on the table for Australia following the local launch of its first car, the C10 electric SUV, in late-2024.

The car maker, part-owned by Stellantis, has revealed its global plan to launch the T03 hatchback sometime in late 2024, with an unnamed SUV set to follow in mid-2025.

An additional two hatchbacks are projected to be announced in early and mid-2026, with another SUV planned for 2027.

However, the local division did not disclose if these models are definitively bound for Australia as Stellantis is looking to launch various Leapmotor cars across European countries like France, Italy, Germany and Spain in September 2024.

Stellantis is also planning to expand Leapmotor's presence in other countries like the Middle East, Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand "from late 2024", with a UK launch expected in March 2025.

When asked if the T03 Hatchback could be part of the brand's future plans for Australia, Matt Lei, Leapmotor’s Vice President of International Operations, said market demand will dictate what the brand's future line-up in the country will look like.

“It really depends on the market demand. We’re still working very closely with the local team [and] trying to identify the opportunities for the [product] portfolio,” Lei told Australian media, including Drive.

“I know that Australia is a wonderful market. Let me say it this way, it’s continuously growing, and the local economy is also doing great.

 “We see a lot of potential opportunities… to develop the best product strategy and to make sure that most of the consumers can enjoy our wonderful products,” he added.

For context, the most affordable T03 hatch variant in China is priced at nearly half the price of Australia's cheapest new electric car, the MG 4 at a promotional $30,990 drive-away offer.

If Leapmotor does intend to launch the T03 Hatch in Australia, it doesn’t mean it will cost $18,000, given the car lacks the required safety technology – such as side airbags – needed for Australian distribution, and any added safety features could inflate the overall pricing.

Lei said the Chinese manufacturer is “thoroughly” studying local regulations to better inform Leapmotor’s vehicle development process in the country.

Additionally, he acknowledged Leapmotor is aware of Australia’s big appetite for four-wheel-drives and SUVs but did not confirm if this is in the brand’s product strategy for the domestic market.

“We understand [and] are aware there is certain demand in the Australian market for the full four-wheel-drive version [of the C10] and we fully understand that.

“We definitely will look into the market and look into the [SUV] segment and combine them together with our current product portfolio and figure out which one will be launched earlier, and which one will be [launched] later on. We’ll definitely have an overall [product] strategy and then we will figure it out after,” he said.

Leapmotor’s Vice President of International Operations also hinted the car maker is looking into the possibility of adding the plug-in hybrid variant of the C10, which is currently available in its native market.

“If there’s an opportunity for the range extender version [of the C10 SUV] we will willingly consider that because countries differ from each other and we need to figure out what is the best product portfolio for the Australian market,” Lei told media.

According to publication Car News China, the C10's 'range extender' hybrid starts from the base model 210 Comfort Edition priced from ¥CH135,800 ($AU28,210) and reaches the top-spec 210 Smart Driving Edition ¥CH165,800 ($AU34,444).