The landscape of the UK's electric vehicle market is set for another shake-up as Chinese brand Leapmotor confirms a significant expansion of its model line-up, headlined by a new small SUV designed to take on Britain's best-selling car.
Building a Brand You Can Trust
Speaking at the Brussels Motor Show on Thursday 15 January 2026, Leapmotor International CEO Tianshu Xin laid out a three-pillar strategy to differentiate his brand from the growing crowd of Chinese manufacturers entering Europe. The cornerstone, he stated, is "trust," bolstered by the firm's joint venture structure with automotive giant Stellantis. Stellantis owns 51% of Leapmotor International and a 21% stake in the Chinese parent company, providing stability and an immediate retail network in the UK through Vauxhall, Citroën, Fiat, and Peugeot dealers.
"With Leapmotor International part of Stellantis you can trust that we're going to stay here for the long run. We're not going to disappear tomorrow," Xin told The Independent. This foundation supported a sales figure of 4,273 cars in the UK during 2025, outperforming established Stellantis marque Alfa Romeo.
Parts, Quality, and New Models
The second pillar addresses a common concern with new imports: parts availability. Xin emphasised that unlike some rivals, Leapmotor established a comprehensive European parts distribution system before its launch, with almost 100% of parts stocked in a regional warehouse to avoid lengthy waits for repairs.
Third is a focus on quality and technology. Every Leapmotor sold in Europe, from the tiny T03 city car upwards, features over-the-air update capability, allowing for continuous improvement and new features to be delivered remotely, much like a smartphone.
The brand used the Brussels show to unveil its new B03X, a small all-electric SUV slated for a UK arrival in the summer of 2026. This model will directly challenge the dominant Ford Puma in one of the market's most competitive sectors. Alongside it, the new B05 hatchback was displayed, and Xin confirmed a third model, the B03 hatchback, is also on the way.
Affordable EVs and Hybrids on the Horizon
Leapmotor also provided updates on its entry-level and alternative-fuel plans. The sub-£15,000 T03, hailed as Britain's best-value EV, will continue to be sold until it is replaced by a next-generation, high-value small car. Furthermore, the brand is set to introduce more 'range extender' plug-in hybrids.
This includes a version of the new B10, which has just gone on sale in the UK. The B10 Hybrid EV will combine a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an 18.8kWh battery, offering a claimed total range of 559 miles and an electric-only range of 50 miles. Crucially, Xin stated it will be priced identically to the pure-electric B10, which costs £31,495 before a £1,500 'Leap Grant' discount.
While larger models like the six-seater C16 are sold in China, Xin indicated that for Europe, the midsize C10 SUV likely represents the upper limit for the brand's size offerings, focusing the expansion on competitive compact and city car segments.
