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The Chinese Leapmotor Valued 200% on the Stock Exchange and Is Expected to Arrive in Brazil in 2025 with Its Electric Cars. Discover How the Brand Challenges Global Rivals.
In recent months, the global automotive market has turned its attention to a Chinese automaker that until recently was little known outside its home country.
Leapmotor, based in Hangzhou, China, saw its shares in Hong Kong rise by over 200% in just 12 months, winning over investors and challenging established giants in the electric vehicle sector.
This impressive leap did not happen by chance. The company bets on an audacious strategy: Electric SUVs at affordable prices and a highly verticalized production, where nearly 70% of the components are developed internally.
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This business model not only ensures lower costs, but also provides greater control over the quality and efficiency of its products.
A New Player in the Electric Car Scene
Founded in 2015 by entrepreneurs Zhu Jiangming and Fu Liquan, who are also responsible for creating the technology giant Dahua, Leapmotor has always had the mission to democratize access to electric cars in China.
While competitors like Li Auto, XPeng, and Xiaomi vie for shares of the premium market, Leapmotor has pursued a different path: to offer Family SUVs at much more competitive prices. This strategy has started to bear fruit rapidly, particularly at a time of economic slowdown in China, where consumers are seeking better cost-benefit options.
The Success of the C11 SUV
The model that symbolizes this game changer is the C11, launched in 2020. It is a robust family SUV, sold starting at 148,800 yuan (about R$ 100 thousand). For comparison, the cheapest SUV from Li Auto, the L6, does not sell for less than 249,800 yuan, almost double the price of the C11.
This price difference has been decisive. In July, Leapmotor recorded over 50,000 units sold in a single month, a historical record for the company. Given this performance, the target for 2025 has been revised to 500,000 units sold, up from 290,000 achieved the previous year.
Market analysts project that, for the first time since its founding, the automaker is expected to register a net profit of 558 million yuan (approximately R$ 375 million) in 2025.
The Surge of Shares on the Stock Market
The strong sales performance has directly reflected in the stock market. Last Friday, Leapmotor shares closed at HK$ 65.40, compared to only HK$ 19.54 in August of last year. This jump has allowed the automaker to surpass rivals like XPeng and Xiaomi in market valuation during the same period.
According to Bloomberg estimates, the stock price could reach HK$ 74.89 in the next 12 months, which reinforces investor optimism.
The secret, according to experts, lies in the verticalization of production. This strategy, coupled with a focus on mass-market vehicles and efficiency in capital utilization, ensures Leapmotor a differentiated position.
International Expansion: A Step Beyond China
Although the domestic market is the main engine of growth, Leapmotor has already begun to set its sights on broader horizons.
At the end of 2023, the company established a joint venture with Stellantis, a group that owns brands like Jeep, Fiat, Peugeot, and Chrysler.
The agreement provides for the production and commercialization of Leapmotor electric cars outside of China, which represents a different strategy than that adopted by other competitors, like BYD, which prefers to build its own factories in Europe.
In 2024, Leapmotor exported 13,726 vehicles, a number that represents about 5% of its total sales. Although still modest, this volume is expected to grow rapidly with the support of Stellantis, accelerating the brand’s internationalization.
The Challenges Ahead
Despite all the excitement, experts warn that Leapmotor still faces significant obstacles. To truly establish itself as a global leader in electric cars, the company will need to scale its production and reach the mark of 1 million vehicles sold per year.
This level is considered a turning point in the industry, and few automakers can achieve it sustainably.
Moreover, there is the challenge of turning the current excitement into consistent long-term results. In other words, the first projected net profit for 2025 will only be the beginning.
The company will have to prove that it can maintain positive margins even in an increasingly competitive market filled with new startups.
Brazil on Leapmotor’s Radar
In addition to all this international growth, Leapmotor is also targeting the Brazilian market. The brand, which is a result of the partnership with Stellantis — a group that controls heavyweight names like Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot, Citroën, and RAM — is expected to debut in Brazil in 2025.
Although details about versions, prices, and exact launch dates have not yet been revealed, expectations are high.
After all, Leapmotor’s entry promises to intensify competition among electric car manufacturers in Brazil, offering modern and affordable SUVs to an audience increasingly interested in sustainable mobility.
Until then, we continue to closely follow the company’s next steps, which could become one of the big surprises in the Brazilian automotive sector in 2025.
Que venha logo!