Leapmotor confirms range-extender B10 small SUV for 2026 launch

Leapmotor will expand its lineup next year with an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) version of the B10 small electric SUV, in a move the company says will help bridge the gap between petrol and fully electric vehicles as it accelerates its global rollout.

Speaking at the international media launch of the B10 in France, Leapmotor International’s Global Head of Brand Strategy, Product and Marketing,  Francesco Giacalone, said a range-extender powertrain will be available in the B10 in 2026.

“B10 will arrive with the range-extender version in spring 2026… the perfect transition model from ICE [internal combustion engine] to EV [electric vehicle],” Mr Giacalone told media including CarExpert.

He said the decision follows the success of the C10 mid-size SUV, which offers both EV and EREV powertrains. In China, roughly half of all C10 buyers choose the hybridised model, and Leapmotor expects similar takeup when the technology becomes available in export markets.

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“C10… has been working extremely well, mostly in China, as I said, but the global expansion is there… In this moment, the sales of C10 are roughly 50-50 between the battery-electric version and the range-extended,” he said.

Mr Giacalone confirmed the EREV drivetrain will join the B10 lineup after its initial release in EV form, describing it as essential for customers still wary of charging infrastructure or long-distance range.

He also confirmed the company would not switch the B10 to an 800-volt platform, saying the existing 400-volt system already achieves fast charging without compromising affordability.

“The current charging capability of B10 with the 400-volt architecture – 30 to 80 percent in 18 minutes – is already at the edge of what is possible… 800 volt means more wiring, more power, a different DC-to-DC converter on board. So you’re adding cost to the vehicle when the performance is already there,” he explained.

According to the official specification data, the B10 currently uses a 67.1kWh LFP battery delivering 434km of WLTP range, or 361km in the smaller-capacity 56.2 kWh version. Both use a 160kW/240Nm rear-mounted motor and can charge from 30-80 per cent in about 20 minutes on a 140-168kW DC fast-charger.

In Australia, the electric B10 is due in dealerships from November 2025, priced from $38,990 drive-away for the Style variant and $41,990 drive-away for the Design LR long-range version.

Both feature a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, 17 ADAS functions, 360-degree camera, and a panoramic glass roof, while the Design LR adds TechnoLeather seat trim, power-adjustable front seats, ventilated seating, and a 12-speaker audio system.

Mr Giacalone said the company’s plan is to leverage the same drivetrain architecture for a global audience, with the range-extender powertrain set to reach new markets throughout 2026.

“South America is launching this month… It’s all about range-extender. South Africa starting this month, range-extender, Middle East range-extender,” he said. “That will be a technology that globally will let growth.”

The B10 will become Leapmotor’s third global model after the existing C10, and the T03 city car, as part of the company’s plan to deliver a new vehicle roughly every six months.

MORE: Explore the Leapmotor B10 showroom