A one-tonne ute could be in Leapmotor’s mid-term future, and the brand could turn one around quickly if it sees the need.
Chinese electric car specialist Leapmotor could be the latest brand to deliver on an electrified ute, though nothing is expected to materialise for some time to come.
In Australia ahead of the 2025 Melbourne Motor Show, Leapmotor International CEO Tianshu Xin revealed the brand will explore expanding its current passenger car line-up to also encompass commercial vehicles, which could also include a pick-up – or ute.
“When you’re a new baby, you cannot expect from day one, that you cover everything … you have to take one step at a time,” Xin said.
“At the moment, we’re focusing on not the pick-up sector, we’re focusing on the passenger cars.
MORE: Leapmotor Australia eyeing substantial market coverage with new models
“But it doesn’t necessarily rule out the possibility that Leapmotor will develop, not only a pick-up, but also entering into the commercial vehicle space.
“It’s more than just a pick-up, because even in the light-commercial space, this energy transition will happen as well, but it will be maybe a few years behind passenger cars.”
Leapmotor started in 2015 in China, but looked to a partner when plans formed to export cars globally.
Stellantis wound up being that partner, and the two formed Leapmotor International as a joint venture with a 51:49 share going Stellantis’ way.
MORE: Leapmotor on track to outsell Jeep and Alfa Romeo, its fellow Stellantis brands
This arrangement means Leapmotor is responsible for its home-market of China, while Stellantis looks after the rest of the markets, such as Australia, Europe, and the Africa, that the brand is available in.
As such, because Leapmotor does not field a ute in its home market due to regulations that prevent such vehicles from entering city centres, there is currently nothing available to Leapmotor International for ute-hungry markets like Australia and South Africa.
However, this has not stopped compatriot Chinese brands, with BYD, JAC, MG, GWM, and LDV all currently fielding – or soon to offer – one-tonne utes to rival the best-selling Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.
Of note, a bevy of these new utes will feature electrification in some form, which would fit the bill for a ‘new-energy’ brand like Leapmotor.
MORE: New Chinese electric cars earn top marks in ANCAP safety testing
With ambitions to be a bigger player in Australia, Leapmotor might need to have some skin in the ute game as it is one of the largest segments locally.
Luckily, Xin said Leapmotor’s ability to quickly design, develop, and distribute new products will be a boon, if and when, it deems a ute necessary.
“When you are looking at the business decision on the product plan, you have to make sure the product plan we are introducing makes sense,” Xin said.
“As you say, pick-ups are a big market, in the Stellantis Group, we have a good pick-up in Ram.
MORE: Multiple new electric cars on the cards for Leapmotor Australia
“From a Leapmotor perspective, if you look at the LRP and the product plan they have in China, at the moment, the main focus is not on a pick-up.
“In the current Leapmotor product plan, we do not have the pick-up, and frankly speaking, there is nothing to hide.
“But the speed they’re developing new products is amazing.
“It doesn’t rule [a ute] out in the future, if we see [opportunity].”
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