Leapmotor is a Chinese car brand that specializes in new-energy vehicles, and it’s coming to South Africa.
Earlier this year, the company announced that it would launch in our market in September 2025, putting its release window just a few weeks away.
Of course, several new Chinese automakers have made their local debut in the last two years, but Leapmotor is slightly different than its peers.
The company was founded in China in 2015 and sold its first vehicles in 2019.
A few years later, Stellantis acquired a 20% stake in Leapmotor and began selling its cars in Europe in 2024.
As a reminder, Stellantis is an automotive firm that was formed in 2021, following a merger between the Fiat Chrysler and French PSA Group.
As a result, Stellantis is now the parent company behind several familiar car brands, including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Opel, and Peugeot – all of which are available in South Africa.
Leapmotor will, therefore, be the newest addition to the Stellantis family in South Africa, catering to a new audience with its focus on electric vehicles (EVs).
It is still unclear whether Leapmotor will launch with its own dealer channel, or if it will make use of the existing Stellantis network, meaning that its cars will be found in showrooms alongside Fiats and Opels.
What’s in store
The one vehicle already confirmed for our market is the C10 electric SUV.
It is classified as a midsize model, putting in the same bracket as the VW Tiguan, Ford Territory, or Toyota Rav4, to name a few.
Interestingly, the C10 is available as both a battery electric vehicle (BEV) and a range-extended electric vehicle (REEV).
The BEV is your typical electric car, employing one or more motors powered by a high-capacity battery.
In the case of the C10, motorists can expect a 160kW e-motor and one of two battery sizes, 52.9kWh or 69.9kWh, which provide a driving range of 410km or 530km, respectively.
The REEV is a bit more complicated, featuring a combustion engine in addition to the electrical components.
The C10 is fitted with a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 50-litre tank, which functions as a generator to power a 28.4kWh battery connected to the e-motor.
Importantly, the combustion plant does not directly power the axles, which means the REEV is still considered an electric car.
By itself, the 28.4kWh cell is large enough to afford 145km of electric driving.
However, by using the ‘generator’ to top up the battery, the C10 can travel 970km before both the fuel tank and the energy cells are depleted.
The REEV has a clear advantage over the BEV in terms of range, hence its name, but it remains to be seen how much Leapmotor will charge for both versions when it launches in South Africa.
Looking at its design, the C10 has a rather sleek, minimalist aesthetic with slim LED headlights and a closed-off front end, similar to most EVs.
It also has a set of large alloy wheels, and the back features a singular taillight bar that stretches across the boot door with bold Leapmotor lettering just underneath.
The spec sheet will only be confirmed closer to launch, but a few of the highlights seen overseas include heated and ventilated front seats, a large panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, a wireless charging pad, a 10.25-inch digital driver display, and a floating 14.6-inch infotainment screen.
Notably, Leapmotor is one of a few brands that does not support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Still, users can make use of the car’s integrated app selection, which includes onboard navigation and familiar services like Spotify.
Leapmotor C10
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