- Founder cites stronger-than-expected orders for A10 and D19
- Overseas expansion and new launches underpin growth ambitions
Leapmotor said it is confident of reaching annual sales of 1 million vehicles, after a rebound in orders driven by new model launches, its founder and CEO Zhu Jiangming said at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show.
Speaking on April 26 during the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, Zhu pointed to stronger-than-expected demand in April, particularly for the newly launched A10 and D19 models, as a key reason behind the company’s more ambitious outlook.
Zhu said first-quarter deliveries totaled more than 110,000 vehicles globally, including over 40,000 units overseas.
While broadly in line with expectations, the figure fell slightly short of earlier targets, reflecting weaker domestic demand at the start of the year even as Chinese automakers continued to expand abroad, Zhu said, who is also the founder of video surveillance equipment producer Dahua Group.
Momentum picked up after the launch of the A10, an entry-level compact model introduced on March 26, and the early release of the flagship 6-seater SUV D19 on April 16.
Orders in April “far exceeded expectations,” Zhu said, underpinning confidence in hitting the full-year goal of 1 million units sold.
The A10 received more than 40,000 firm orders in its first month, marking the fastest order growth in the company’s history.
Production has shifted to a two-shift schedule, with daily output exceeding 1,000 units and May deliveries expected between 26,000 and 27,000 vehicles.
The D19, priced between 219,800 yuan and 269,800 yuan (about $32,177 to $39,497), ranks second among all Leapmotor launches by order volume, with an average order value above 250,000 yuan, signaling an effort to move upmarket.
Zhu also highlighted the company’s joint venture with Stellantis, which has remained profitable for two consecutive years, positioning it as a benchmark for Chinese automakers expanding overseas.
He outlined a longer-term global sales mix shifting from an initial 60% domestic and 40% overseas split toward a target of 40% in China and 60% abroad.
Leapmotor is relying on the A10 to drive volume growth and the D19 to lift pricing, while ramping up production capacity as it seeks to scale annual sales from around 600,000 units toward the one-million mark in 2026.
