SHANGHAI — Chinese EV maker Leapmotor has unveiled its game-changing B01 sedan, targeting budget-conscious consumers with a staggering 650 km (CLTC) range and a jaw-dropping starting price of just $14,700 (¥106,800). The model, poised to reshape the affordable EV segment, enters pre-sales today in China ahead of Q3 deliveries.
The B01’s minimalist design features flush door handles, a panoramic glass roof, and a futuristic interior dominated by a 14.6-inch rotating center screen powered by Leapmotor’s in-house "8295" chip. Safety specs include L2+ autonomous driving capabilities and a reinforced battery pack tested to withstand extreme collisions.
Price Disruption
Leapmotor’s aggressive pricing undercuts rivals like BYD’s Seagull ($9,800–16,900) and Wuling’s Bingo EV, offering nearly double the range of most competitors in its class. Industry analysts attribute this to vertical integration—Leapmotor produces 70% of components in-house, slashing supply-chain costs.
Global Ambitions
The B01 arrives amid Leapmotor’s rapid European expansion. Last September, the Stellantis-backed brand announced European pricing for its existing models, signaling ambitions to challenge Western automakers.
Related Developments:
- Leapmotor International’s European Pricing Strategy (Electrive, Sept 2024)
- XPeng’s Mona M03 Hits 12,566 Orders in 1 Hour (CNEVPost, May 2025)
- B01 Pre-Sales Launch in China (CNEVPost, June 2025)
The B01’s debut follows XPeng’s record-breaking Mona M03 launch, which saw 12,566 orders in 60 minutes last month—proof of surging demand for sub-$20,000 EVs.
Challenges Ahead
Leapmotor CEO Jiang Wei acknowledged production scalability as a key hurdle but emphasized partnerships with Foxconn and Stellantis to boost output. "The B01 isn’t just a car; it’s our manifesto for democratizing EV tech," he stated at the Shanghai reveal.
With pre-orders now open, the B01 could accelerate China’s EV adoption—currently at 40% nationally—while pressuring legacy automakers to slash prices. As battery costs plummet, Leapmotor’s gamble may soon redefine "affordable range" worldwide.
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