Leapmotor B05 breaks cover

First real-world photos of the Leapmotor B05 have surfaced online, giving us a clear look at a new electric hatchback designed to take on some of Europe's biggest names. The Chinese automaker, backed by industry giant Stellantis, plans to officially unveil the B05 at the Munich Auto Show this September before it goes on sale in its home market in November.

This new model from Leapmotor is positioned directly against popular electric cars like the Volkswagen ID.3, Cupra Born, and the successful MG 4 EV. The B05 isn't a standalone effort but a key piece of a much larger global strategy.

Leapmotor is on an aggressive expansion course, growing its lineup rapidly in order to become a top global EV brand. The company plans to have a six-car lineup available in Europe alone by 2027, and its partnership with Stellantis provides the manufacturing and distribution muscle.

Based on the company's new "Leap 3.5" platform, the Leapmotor B05 is expected to deliver impressive performance figures. The official specs are still under wraps until the Munich debut, but the platform is engineered to support a driving range of up to 404 miles on a single charge.

This figure, while likely based on the generous CLTC testing cycle, puts it at the top end of the compact electric car segment. The B05 will share its underpinnings with a larger crossover model, the B10, which is designed to compete with vehicles like the Ford Explorer EV and Peugeot e-3008.

Leapmotor's brand motto is "Excellence within reach," a clear signal that it plans to compete on price without skimping on technology. Industry insiders expect the B05 to launch with a price tag around €32,000 in Europe, which would translate to roughly $38,000 in the United States.

At that price point, the B05 could significantly undercut its main rivals while offering a similar, if not better, set of features. The interior is expected to be dominated by a large 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen and will focus on high-quality materials, aiming to give drivers a premium feel for a mainstream price.

The B05 is just the opening act in a multi-year product blitz. After the B05 hatchback and B10 crossover, Leapmotor is planning an even smaller and more affordable family of electric cars. These include the A10, a small crossover designed to rival the Jeep Avenger, and the A05, a hatchback that will compete with budget-friendly EVs like the Citroën ë-C3 and the Fiat Grande Panda. The A05 could potentially be priced below $25,000, making it one of the most affordable electric cars on the market.

No one can accuse Leapmotor of lacking confidence. Having established nearly 1,500 retail locations worldwide, the 10-year-old brand finished last year as the 11th most popular EV brand globally. Its goal is to climb to ninth place this year, seventh in 2026, and eventually secure a spot among the world's top five EV makers.

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