Chinese start-up Leapmotor is rocketing toward the big leagues. The brand became China’s No. 1 NEV start-up car brand, with a 103% year-on-year increase in sales, bringing its total to over 600,000 vehicles sold. And to add to the tally, the company has unveiled its first MPV, the D99.
Leapmotor was founded in 2015 and first started selling vehicles in 2019. The company soon realized, like many other Chinese brands, that mass growth would require an international approach.
In 2023, Leapmotor partnered with Stellantis to sell its vehicles in Europe. A strategy that seems to have paid off, as Leapmotor’s sales have doubled for the second year in a row.
Twice the sales, twice in a row
More specifically, Leapmotor delivered 596,555 vehicles worldwide, up from 293,724 the previous year. That’s a 103% increase. For context, in 2023, the company sold only 144,155 cars, primarily in its domestic market. Growth is not over yet: in December 2025, 60,423 vehicles were delivered, with 2026 projected to be even better.
Alongside the expansion of its market reach, the ever-growing Leapmotor model range also contributes to this success. This past year saw the launch of the compact SUV B10 in Europe, with the even smaller B03X and the B05 hatchback debuting at the Brussels Motor Show later this week.
D99 minivan with 1,000 V ‘hybrid’ battery
For the Chinese market, Leapmotor has just announced the D99 MPV. It’s a full-size minivan (5,200 mm long on a 3,100 mm wheelbase) available in both REEV (range-extended) and VEV variants.
Both variants make use of CATL batteries, while the BEV features a 1,000-volt LFP/NMC hybrid battery. The electric range is projected to be 500 km for the EREV and 720 km for the BEV (in the CLTC cycle). The technical platform is shared with the flagship SUV D19.
Other features include a new digital architecture in collaboration with Qualcomm, featuring dual Snapdragon Elite chipsets for comprehensive vehicle control and AI-powered driver assistance. This system will also be shown off at CES 2026 in Las Vegas this week.
Passengers can enjoy the comfort of dual-chamber air suspension, but images and details of the interior features remain scarce. Production of the Leapmotor D99 will commence later in 2026.
