Leapmotor brings electric cars to the UK in Stellantis partnership as B05 debuts

Leapmotor, the Chinese electric-vehicle maker, will bring its cars to the United Kingdom in a partnership with Stellantis, the European car group that controls brands across Europe. The company unveiled its next model, the B05 hatchback, at the Munich motor show, with plans for it to go on sale in the UK next year. The B10 crossover EV is set to arrive earlier, this winter, as Leapmotor expands its footprint in Europe alongside Stellantis. Leapmotor has already introduced the T03 city car and the C10 SUV in the UK, each eligible for Leapmotor’s own EV grant of up to £3,750 on both models, a program designed to sweeten early adoption in new markets.

The B05 is positioned as a compact, rear-wheel-drive hatch with a familiar footprint for UK buyers. It rides on 19-inch wheels and targets a Vauxhall Astra-sized segment, offering a single high-spec variant. The price is described by Leapmotor as very competitive, coming in at just above £30,000 before any local incentives. Performance figures place the car in the accessible performance band for modern EVs, with an expected 0 to 62 mph time of around eight seconds and a top speed near 105 mph. The company characterized the B05 as a sibling to the closely related B10, sharing much of its engineering while targeting different buyers and body styles.

The B10, Leapmotor’s crossover offering, is slated to arrive in the UK earlier than the B05, coming to market this winter. The B10 is designed to appeal to buyers who want a compact SUV with what Leapmotor describes as a practical balance of range, space and price. While Leapmotor has highlighted its T03 city car and C10 SUV at lower and higher price points respectively, the B05’s positioning around £30,000 places it between the entry-level and larger models, expanding the brand’s scale in a market that is increasingly receptive to Chinese EV brands.

Leapmotor’s push into the UK comes through a formal collaboration with Stellantis, a group with a broad European footprint and an established network that can support after-sales, service, and distribution. The partnership underscores a broader trend of Chinese automakers pursuing European markets through alliances with established manufacturers, aiming to combine Leapmotor’s EV technology and pricing with Stellantis’ regional reach and dealer networks. In the UK, the move signals a willingness to compete not just on price but on a broader package that includes once-spotty perceptions about new entrants, service availability, and warranty support. Leapmotor’s strategy in the region appears designed to answer those concerns by leveraging Stellantis’ presence while offering new models that emphasize value and modern EV performance.

Industry observers note that Leapmotor’s European expansion aligns with a broader shift in the electric-vehicle market, where several Chinese brands are seeking to establish a presence in Western markets through partnerships and local market adaptations. For UK buyers, the B05 and B10 additions broaden the spectrum of choices in a segment that has seen rapid growth as fleet and retail demand for EVs continues to climb. The combination of a relatively affordable price point, practical sizing, and familiar automotive packaging could help Leapmotor gain traction among buyers who are weighing between compact hatchbacks and small crossovers with recharge capabilities and urban-friendly driving characteristics. Leapmotor has not disclosed detailed range figures for the B05, but the company emphasizes efficiency and performance suitable for everyday driving, complemented by the utility of a hatchback layout and the practicality that owners expect in European cities.

In the months ahead, market watchers will be watching for how the UK dealer network rolls out Leapmotor’s lineup and how the Stellantis partnership translates into service quality and after-sales support. The launch timeline positions the B05 to capture early 2025 demand, with the B10 arriving in the winter window to capitalize on a busy shopping season and the ongoing interest in affordable, well-equipped EVs. Late 2024 and early 2025 have already shown a flurry of activity as European buyers look for a broader mix of models and price points from both traditional automakers and new entrants, and Leapmotor’s UK push illustrates how Chinese electric-vehicle makers are seeking to convert interest into tangible sales through collaborations that leverage established regional networks.