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Leapmotor’s SUV expands the offensive of the Chinese brand in Brazil and enters the radar of a segment that mixes electrification, interior space, and Stellantis’ industrial strategy, with arrival expected amid the expansion of local operations.
The Leapmotor confirmed the arrival of the C16 in Brazil in 2027, expanding the Chinese brand’s lineup in the country within Stellantis’ regional strategy.
The SUV will be offered in two configurations, one fully electric and another with range extender.
National production in Goiana (PE), previously announced by the group, will remain limited to the utility vehicles B10 and C10.
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The decision regarding the arrival of the C16 comes after the model was showcased at the São Paulo Auto Show in November 2025.
At that time, the utility was presented to the Brazilian public amid the advancement of Leapmotor’s local operations.
Now, with the confirmed launch forecast for 2027, the model officially becomes part of the brand’s commercial plan in the country.
So far, the manufacturer has not disclosed prices, closed versions for the Brazilian market, or the exact debut date.
Still, the confirmation of the C16 indicates the expansion of Leapmotor’s portfolio in a segment that includes larger electrified SUVs.
In Brazil, the brand has been structuring its operation with initial importation of models and local production planned for part of the range.
Leapmotor in Brazil: the brand’s strategy includes gradual expansion
The announcement of the C16 was made in the same context in which Stellantis officially confirmed the national manufacturing of the B10 and C10 SUVs at the Automotive Hub in Goiana.
According to the company’s statement, these will be the first Leapmotor vehicles assembled in Brazil, alongside the development of the first regional application of the REEV Flex technology.
In this scenario, the C16 appears as an additional model in the brand’s offensive.
Instead of being part of the first phase of national production, the SUV is expected to be offered through importation.
The proposal is to expand the range above the C10, focusing on consumers looking for a three-row utility vehicle.
With this, Leapmotor will operate in a market segment that is already being contested by other Chinese manufacturers in Brazil.
Stellantis’ move, therefore, includes a product aimed at the segment of electrified SUVs with greater internal capacity and technological appeal.
Dimensions of the Leapmotor C16 and cabin for six occupants
In the configuration already presented abroad, the Leapmotor C16 measures 4.915 meters in length, 1.905 meters in width, 1.770 meters in height, and has 2.825 meters in wheelbase.
Based on its dimensions, the model positions itself above traditional medium SUVs sold in the Brazilian market.
One of the main points of the proposal is the cabin with three rows of seats.
The configuration most associated with the model is the 2+2+2, with space for six occupants.
This arrangement brings the C16 closer to utility vehicles aimed at family use and consumers looking for greater transport capacity.
In terms of external appearance, the SUV follows the design language already adopted by Leapmotor in other products of the brand.
The front has a closed surface, strip lighting, and few visible elements.
At the rear, the design repeats the solution with interconnected taillights and cleaner lines.
SUV interior concentrates controls on screens
In the cabin, the C16 maintains the proposal of an interior with few physical controls and a greater concentration of functions on screens.
The cabin adopts horizontal lines and a simplified visual, a standard that has been applied by Chinese manufacturers in electrified models.
Among the already known items from the version sold abroad are the 14.6-inch multimedia center and the 10.25-inch digital instrument panel.
The straight-base steering wheel is also part of the configuration presented by the brand in other markets.
The definitive list of equipment for Brazil, however, has not yet been disclosed.
For this reason, additional comfort, connectivity, entertainment, and driving assistance features depend on confirmation closer to the launch.
Electric version of the Leapmotor C16 will have an 81.9 kWh battery
In the Chinese market, the Leapmotor C16 is offered in the BEV variant, an acronym used for battery electric vehicles.
In this configuration, the SUV uses a rear motor with 299 hp and an 81.9 kWh battery in the higher range versions.
According to the data released for China, this configuration can achieve up to 630 km of range in the CLTC cycle, the measurement standard adopted in that market.
This number, however, cannot be directly compared with a potential Brazilian homologation, as Inmetro uses a different methodology.
Therefore, the official range of the model in Brazil may vary from that reported abroad.
So far, Leapmotor has not disclosed specific numbers for the national market nor detailed which configuration of the electric powertrain will be allocated to the country.
REEV system of the C16 is also planned for Brazil
In addition to the electric version, the C16 will arrive in Brazil with the REEV system, an acronym for electric vehicle with range extender.
In this type of architecture, the traction remains electric, while the combustion engine acts as a generator to recharge the battery.
The technology is part of Leapmotor’s strategy and also appears in Stellantis’ regional planning.
The company reported that it is developing a REEV Flex application in South America, but has not yet publicly detailed which models will receive this solution or at what stage of the schedule this will occur.
In the case of the C16 sold in China, the combined range of the version with the extender can exceed 1,000 km, according to numbers released in specialized publications based on the NEDC cycle.
As with the electric version, however, the final data for Brazil will depend on local homologation and the configuration chosen for the national market.
Price of the Leapmotor C16 has not yet been defined
Leapmotor has not yet informed how much it intends to charge for the C16 in Brazil.
It also did not detail how many versions will be available or which items will come standard in the local range.
The positioning of the model above the C10 within the brand’s portfolio is already clear, but the manufacturer has not yet presented an official price range.
So far, there is also no public definition regarding the equipment package, precise launch calendar, or expected import volume.
With a debut expected for 2027, the C16 becomes part of a stage of Leapmotor’s expansion in Brazil, alongside the advancement of local production of other models and the development of new electrification solutions for the region.
In this context, the SUV is expected to compete in a niche still consolidating in the country, aimed at consumers looking for three rows, electrified powertrain, and greater range.
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