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Leapmotor T03 could be cheapest electric car
European group behind Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, Vauxhall and others to help Chinese brand Leapmotor establish a foothold here
Words by: Erin Baker
Published on 14 May 2024 | 0 min read
Another newcomer in the growing number of Chinese electric car brands entering the UK market, Leapmotor will be arriving here in 2025 with a small city car and medium SUV sold through the dealerships of Stellantis, the European parent company for Peugeot, Citroën, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Vauxhall, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and others.
The Leapmotor T03 city car will be a similar size to the Fiat 500 electric and offer about 160 miles of range and 100 horsepower. The Leapmotor C10 SUV, with about 260 miles of range and 230 horsepower, will go head-to-head with big sellers like the Tesla Model 3, VW ID.3 and their respective Model Y and ID.4 relatives according to Stellantis’s CEO Carlos Tavares speaking at a press conference in China.
The Leapmotor T03 city car will be a similar size to the Fiat 500 electric and offer about 160 miles of range and 100 horsepower. The Leapmotor C10 SUV, with about 260 miles of range and 230 horsepower, will go head-to-head with big sellers like the Tesla Model 3, VW ID.3 and their respective Model Y and ID.4 relatives according to Stellantis’s CEO Carlos Tavares speaking at a press conference in China.
Stellantis and Leapmotor have formed a joint venture called Leapmotor International, based in Amsterdam and manufacturing the Leapmotor-badged cars in European countries instead of exporting them direct from China. Sales begin in Europe at the end of this year, before expanding to Asia and the Middle East and the UK next year. Given America’s exorbitant tariffs on Chinese cars at the moment, there are no plans to sell Leapmotor-badged vehicles in the States.
While prices have not been announced yet it’s probable that when the T03 does go on sale in the UK, it will be the cheapest new electric car in Britain, undercutting both the Citroën ë-C3 and Dacia Spring. “We will soon be able to offer our customers price-competitive and tech-centric electric vehicles that will exceed their expectations,” boasted Tavares at the announcement. Customers concerned about build quality or security concerns of Chinese cars will be reassured by Stellantis’ pledge to build the cars at European factories and it’s likely the T03 will be produced alongside the Fiat 500 electric in Poland. Tavares also pledged to support Leapmotor-badged products with Stellantis’s comprehensive after-sales network to ensure the speedy and reliable flow of spare parts in European markets.
While prices have not been announced yet it’s probable that when the T03 does go on sale in the UK, it will be the cheapest new electric car in Britain, undercutting both the Citroën ë-C3 and Dacia Spring. “We will soon be able to offer our customers price-competitive and tech-centric electric vehicles that will exceed their expectations,” boasted Tavares at the announcement. Customers concerned about build quality or security concerns of Chinese cars will be reassured by Stellantis’ pledge to build the cars at European factories and it’s likely the T03 will be produced alongside the Fiat 500 electric in Poland. Tavares also pledged to support Leapmotor-badged products with Stellantis’s comprehensive after-sales network to ensure the speedy and reliable flow of spare parts in European markets.
