First Look Review: The Leapmotor B10 is contemporary & simple

Update (November 20, 2024): ‘Production plan’ added.

Leapmotor debuted the B10 at the Paris Motor Show, marking the global launch of its first C-Segment SUV. This is a significant model in Leapmotor’s international expansion strategy.

The B10 is the first model in Leapmotor’s new B-series and is built on the LEAP 3.5 architecture which includes features like ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), a customizable digital cockpit, and intelligent driving capabilities, and is targeted at young buyers.

Getting up close with the Leapmotor B10 at the Paris Motor Show, I felt that the Chinese designers have done a commendable job in keeping the SUV contemporary, yet simple. That said, to me, there are some elements that are reminiscent of the Porsche Cayenne here. The rear fascia, with the wraparound taillight band is one connection to the German SUV.

The front of the B10 has a full-width LED light bar, with headlamp assembly stacked below in the bumper. The design feels quite modern with a clamshell bonnet, flush door handles, short overhangs, and black contrast roof and mirror enclosures. The fender element carrying the Leapmotor branding is also finished in gloss black, though I would like to see the brand introduce sporty and more colorful variants in the future.

The company didn’t reveal the interior, though it is expected to offer comfortable seating for four adults. Leapmotor also didn’t say anything about the car’s specifications, but Autocar UK has reported that it is powered by a rear-mounted electric motor that produces 215 hp, and uses a 69.9 kWh battery pack that is good for 262 miles of range. The publication confirms a 2025 UK launch for the B10, with prices beginning at under £30,000.

Leapmotor, in partnership with Stellantis, has already established more than 200 dealerships across 13 countries in Europe. It plans to increase this number to 500 sales points by 2025.

Production plan

According to a report Reuters published on November 10, 2024, Stellantis will not manufacture the Leapmotor B10 in Tychy, Poland, like the Leapmotor T03, as the country voted in favor of imposing definitive countervailing duties on EVs imported from China to the EU. Instead, the company is considering its factories in Eisenach, Germany, and Trnava, Slovakia, it said.

Germany and Slovakia voted against the decision and should likely be safe from retaliatory duties from China. Compared to Germany, Slovakia has lower labor costs and may seem like a more favorable choice for the new production location.