- New launches continue to power rapid sales growth across entry and premium segments
- Zhejiang automaker targets aggressive second-quarter ramp-up despite rising volume base
Leapmotor delivered 81,569 vehicles in May, a record high for the Chinese electric-vehicle maker, as its latest product cycle continued to drive rapid volume growth across its lineup.
The result marked a 81% increase from a year earlier, according to company data, and kept monthly deliveries above the 70,000-unit level following April’s record 71,387 units.
The milestone marks the first time Leapmotor’s monthly deliveries have exceeded 80,000 vehicles. The company said it maintained a leading position among China’s new-energy vehicle startups.
Its 81% year-on-year delivery growth outpaced the broader Chinese EV market, where sales rose about 35% in May.
Cost killer
The Hangzhou-based automaker’s recent surge has been driven largely by new model launches. Its entry-level A10, launched on March 26, was the first vehicle in its price segment to offer lidar-based assisted driving below 100,000 yuan ($14,778).
The model received more than 40,000 orders within 28 days of launch, becoming a key contributor to sales expansion.
Its flagship SUV D19, launched on April 16, secured more than 15,000 orders within 15 days, with deliveries from both models continuing to ramp up in May after an initial release in April.
Well short of the full-year target
Leapmotor delivered a cumulative 263,111 vehicles in the first five months of the year, up 51.51% over the past year but still well short of its full-year target of 1 million units set at the start of the year.
Senior vice president Tiger Cao previously said the A10 entered double-shift production at the end of April, with monthly output targeted at 26,000-27,000 units in May and expected to exceed 30,000 units in June.
The company has set a second-quarter sales target of 240,000 to 250,000 vehicles, implying an average monthly run rate of around 87,000 units for May and June.
Leapmotor also launched the 2026 C10 on May 15. The model introduces an 800-volt high-voltage platform and end-to-end lidar-assisted driving in the 140,000-yuan segment.
The company expects it to provide additional momentum in the coming quarters.
Overseas momentum
Beyond its record domestic sales, Leapmotor is attracting growing attention from overseas markets, particularly in Europe.
In May, British motoring presenter Richard Hammond toured the company’s Jinhua plant and previewed its upcoming D19 model.
European dealers also visited Leapmotor’s manufacturing facilities and headquarters in China following the Beijing auto show.
On May 8, Leapmotor and Stellantis agreed to deepen their partnership, with the B10 set to enter production at a factory in Spain in 2026.
The companies also launched joint procurement initiatives aimed at lowering manufacturing costs in Europe.
The move marks Leapmotor’s first localized production program in Europe and a broadening of its cooperation with Stellantis beyond distribution.
