The recent SA Auto Week event hosted by naamsa: The Automotive Business Council (naamsa) saw a number of new energy vehicles converge on Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape ahead of the show as a demonstration and this included Leapmotor, having its first official outing on local soil.
The Chinese electric car, part of the Stellantis group of brands, offers as its unique selling point fully electric driving with a combustion engine dedicated to recharging the battery – ie it is not connected to the drivetrain – to eliminate range anxiety.
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Leapmotor, founded in 2015 by Jiangming Zhu, has quickly risen as a significant force in China’s electric vehicle sector, with more than 600 000 units sold since inception and ambitious plans to hit 500 000 annual sales by year end.
The company’s full control over its value chain—including battery and software design—sets it apart in a competitive industry. This move comes through a strategic joint venture with Stellantis, leveraging the multinational’s extensive infrastructure and established distribution network. The partnership aims to deliver Leapmotor’s advanced technology, competitive pricing, and customer-centric approach to South African consumers, aligning with Stellantis’ broader commitment to innovation in the automotive space.
Leapmotor’s REEV (Range-Extended Electric Vehicle) technology removes the range limitations that usually hinders EV adoption—an important consideration in the South African context, where charging infrastructure remains limited.
According to Mike Whitfield, Managing Director at Stellantis South Africa, the partnership with Leapmotor underscores the company’s commitment to delivering innovative, sustainable mobility solutions tailored for the South African market. By bringing Leapmotor into its lineup, Stellantis aims to support the country’s transition toward cleaner and more accessible transportation options.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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