Leapmotor is getting ready to introduce the much awaited Leapmotor D19 SUV, the first model in the D-series, which will be a significant step in the company’s growth into the mid-to-large SUV market.
An announcement posted on the company’s official Weibo account states that the Leapmotor D19 SUV will formally make its world debut on October 16. Given that the number “9” typically denotes top-tier status, the D19’s naming suggests it could become Leapmotor’s flagship and most costly vehicle. A teaser poster confirmed that the D19 is, in fact, an SUV.
A New Flagship in Leapmotor’s Lineup
The T03, B01, B10, C01, C10, C11, and C16 are currently available in China as part of Leapmotor‘s lineup. Although the C-series is the company’s most expensive model to date, it is still roughly half as expensive as Li Auto’s EREVs. Leapmotor is known as a “half-price Li Auto” as a result of this pricing strategy.
The D19 SUV will go farther. According to Leapmotor executives, the new model will be the company’s most sophisticated and high-end vehicle to date, with a target price point of about RMB 300,000 (about $42,180).
Advanced Technology and Qualcomm Partnership
The company’s next-generation central domain controller, which is driven by Qualcomm’s dual Snapdragon 8797 chips, will make its debut in the Leapmotor D19 SUV. The D-series will introduce state-of-the-art smart technology and performance to Leapmotor’s flagship line when mass production starts in the first quarter of next year.
Zhu Jiangming, the founder and chairman of Leapmotor, announced last year that the D-series would go after the RMB 200,000–300,000 market segment, which is a major volume driver in China’s EV industry. Leapmotor intends to introduce 13–14 new models in its A, B, C, and D series over the course of the following three years, spanning the entire price range of RMB 60,000–300,000.
Testing and Early Sightings
In Turpan, Xinjiang, camouflaged D-series prototypes have been observed undergoing extreme weather testing in recent months. COO Xu Jun posted images that suggested an MPV and an SUV. In addition, anticipation for the official launch was heightened when spy images of the unmasked Leapmotor D19 SUV briefly appeared on Chinese social media before being taken down.
Strong Momentum in Sales
Leapmotor is starting this new chapter with a bang. In August, the company delivered 57,066 vehicles, breaking sales records for the fourth consecutive month. Leapmotor delivered 328,859 vehicles between January and August, a staggering 136.43% increase from the previous year.
