Leapmotor’s latest chapter in Aotearoa unfolded today as the Chinese brand officially took the wraps off its all-new B10, a compact electric SUV built for the world stage, and now, for New Zealand roads as well. The event, hosted in partnership with Stellantis International and Armstrong’s Auto Distributors NZ, carried a clear message: Leapmotor has learned, evolved, and is ready to compete in the mainstream EV game.
With the backdrop of a venue I scouted for my own wedding, the launch event gathered media to unveil the brand’s next big statement after the C10 SUV. Representatives from Stellantis, Leapmotor International, and the local distributor shared updates on brand direction, global strategy, and what B10 means for this region.
Opening remarks from the brand positioned the B10 as “a car that speaks directly to Kiwi drivers: practical, smart, and refreshingly attainable.” They reaffirmed the brand’s momentum, citing strong early results for the C10 and an expanding retail footprint.
“We’re about to hit a tipping point,” they noted. “Recognition is building, we have cars on the road and the next 12 months will be about scale, visibility, and customer confidence. That’s how new brands earn their place in a crowded, competitive segment.”
The B10: Expand Your World
The B10 sits neatly in the compact SUV segment at 4.5m long and 1.88m wide, offering an airy, family-friendly interior with 22 storage spaces, a glass panorama roof, and a clever flat floor layout that makes it feel bigger than it is. The bigger brother C10 offered impressive levels of space for occupants, and the B10 follows closely on those steps despite the smaller footprint.
Power comes from a 160kW rear mounted electric motor, paired with two battery packs, depending on trim level: Life (56.2 kWh, 361 km WLTP range), or Design (67.1 kWh, 434 km WLTP range). Both support up to 168kW DC fast charging, good for a 30–80% top-up in under 20 minutes, offering an interesting mix of efficiency, competitive range and good charging.
Jumping from the Life to the Design trim gets you not only the added range, but also electric, synthetic leather seats with heating and ventilation, a heated wheel, a premium sound system with 12 speakers, an electric tailgate and ambient lights.
Inside, a 14.6-inch floating touchscreen anchors the dashboard, powered by the Snapdragon 8155 chip and running Leapmotor’s own system that offers over-the-air updates for life, phone projection and no less than 17 ADAS systems, that have been recalibrated based on customer feedback. The mobile app, another important part of the Leapmotor experience, will be available from launch and will handle unlocking and starting, charging and climate settings, and even the ability to share the car remotely.
Pricing was also shared, with the Life going for $44,990 and the Design for $5,000 on top of that, at $49,990. Both models are subject to a launch special that takes $2,000 off of each trim level. There are no options per se, with the only customisation option being colours: six will be available, with Light White being the standard one.
The Stellantis backing is a key element, be it from benefitting from engineering input or from helping scale up operations. The New Zealand campaign for the B10 will focus on visibility and familiarity. The brand was candid about the need to “earn trust car by car,” noting that buyers want real-world reassurance before embracing a new player.
The brand’s journey, a product of both factory capability and local pragmatism, suggests the B10 could genuinely find its footing, not just as another EV option, but as proof that new contenders are leveraging their ability to learn and adapt quickly to offer compelling products in a hot segment.
We got the opportunity of taking the B10 for a short drive, and a quick impressions write-up will be available soon; Keep an eye out for a video and written review once we get our hands on it for a longer loan! Thanks, Leapmotor, for hosting us!
