Leapmotor C10 Lease Falls to £184.53 in the UK

Stellantis NV is using its partnership with Chinese electric vehicle maker Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology Co. to expand aggressively in the United Kingdom, where midsize battery-electric crossovers are being offered at monthly leasing rates comparable to traditional subcompact gasoline cars.

The Leapmotor C10 is positioned against the Skoda Enyaq and Tesla Model Y. Promotions distributed through networks and platforms including VIP Gateway and Auto Express Buy A Car have reduced its monthly payment to £184.53 on a two-year lease agreement.

Customers taking the entry-level £184.53 monthly lease pay an initial 12-month payment of £2,599.28 on a 24-month contract capped at 5,000 miles per year. A different financing arrangement requires an upfront six-month equivalent of £1,734.99 and raises the monthly payment to £225.00.

Increasing the annual mileage allowance from 5,000 to 8,000 miles adds less than £20 per month under both payment structures. The C10 is the larger of the two initial models introduced by Leapmotor International in European markets; the other is the T03, an A-segment five-door electric city car.

The leasing approach comes as manufacturers respond to the United Kingdom’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. Zero-emission vehicles must account for at least 22 percent of new car sales in 2024 and 28 percent in 2025, while non-compliance can bring financial penalties of up to £15,000 for each vehicle sold.

Britain has maintained standard tariff rates on vehicle imports from China, unlike the European Union, which imposed countervailing tariffs of up to 35.3 percent on Chinese-built EVs after a high-profile anti-subsidy probe. The UK has therefore become a strategic beachhead for newly introduced Chinese brands.

Stellantis acquired an approximate 21 percent equity stake in Hangzhou-based Leapmotor for €1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) in October 2023. Stellantis was formed by the 2021 merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group.

That transaction created Leapmotor International, a 51:49 joint venture led by Stellantis with exclusive global rights to export, market, and manufacture Leapmotor products outside Greater China. Based in Amsterdam, it uses Stellantis’ existing logistics infrastructure, dealer networks, and service operations to accelerate entry across Europe, South America, and the Asia-Pacific region.

The C10 is the first vehicle developed on Leapmotor’s proprietary LEAP3.0 platform architecture. Its Cell-to-Chassis (CTC 2.0) technology embeds battery cells directly into the vehicle structure to enhance torsional rigidity and cabin space efficiency.

The vehicle is 4,739 millimeters (186.6 inches) long and has a 2,825-millimeter wheelbase. Rear cargo capacity is 400 liters behind the rear seats.

Its European-spec powertrain places a single electric motor at the rear, producing 218 horsepower (160 kW) and 320 Nm of torque for the rear wheels. Acceleration from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) takes 7.5 seconds.

A 69.9 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery supplied by Chinese manufacturer CALB gives the C10 an officially rated WLTP combined driving range of 263 miles (424 kilometers) on one charge.

Leapmotor keeps production and distribution costs low by offering the C10 in one fully equipped trim level. Its standard equipment includes a 14.6-inch central touchscreen infotainment unit, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a fixed panoramic sunroof with an electric shade, multi-color ambient lighting, and heated, ventilated power-adjustable front seats.

Metallic paint, including a dark green finish, is included without an additional surcharge. Stellantis has also begun localized assembly of the T03 at its Tychy manufacturing plant in Poland to circumvent potential trade barriers and streamline supply chains within continental Europe.