Leapmotor has become the first Chinese electric-vehicle startup to break the 100,000-unit monthly delivery barrier, shipping 101,267 vehicles globally in July 2026 — a 102 percent year-on-year surge that cements its position as China’s fastest-growing pure-play EV maker. The milestone, confirmed by the company on August 1, also marks five consecutive months of sequential growth and puts Leapmotor on pace to surpass 700,000 units for the full year.
Reshaping the Startup Pecking Order
July’s numbers widen Leapmotor’s lead over its “new force” rivals. XPeng delivered 38,027 units, NIO Group (including Onvo and Firefly) 35,934, and Li Auto slipped to 30,468 — its fourth consecutive monthly decline. Leapmotor’s year-to-date total reached 457,754 units through July, up 68.4 percent, with cumulative deliveries since its 2019 launch now exceeding 1.69 million vehicles.
Three factors explain the acceleration. First, the B10 SUV and refreshed C-series lineup are driving volume: the B10 starts at 99,800 yuan in China and about €22,000 in Spain, undercutting comparable European EVs by 30–40 percent. In Spain, it was the best-selling EV to private buyers in July, with 94 percent retail mix. Second, the Stellantis joint venture — which holds roughly 21 percent of Leapmotor International — provides a distribution network across more than 130 countries, with local production now online in Spain and Indonesia. Third, about 65 percent of core components are developed in-house, giving Leapmotor BYD-like cost flexibility.
Exports Are the Real Moat
While most Chinese startups struggle overseas, Leapmotor is selling the most Chinese-branded EVs in several European markets. The B10 is on sale across Spain, Italy, France, Germany and the Benelux; a new KD plant in Purwakarta, Indonesia, delivered its first units in August; and an upcoming A05 compact will target the European B-segment. Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa has called Leapmotor one of the group’s two key growth engines, using its products to fill gaps in Opel, Citroën and Fiat EV lineups.
Gross margins are now positive, and Hong Kong-listed shares have outperformed the EV sector through 2026. The next challenge is defending price leadership without being dragged into a margin-destroying war with BYD — a test the company’s vertical integration and Stellantis distribution moat leave it well positioned to pass. For iEVChina’s full coverage of the July delivery league table and model-by-model breakdown, see the original report.
Source: Leapmotor official delivery announcement (Aug 1, 2026); Stellantis press release; Gasgoo; CarNewsChina.
Edited for madeinchinanews.com
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