Gasgoo Munich- Against a backdrop of slowing industry growth, Leapmotor's ascent looks remarkably steep. In May, total deliveries surged past 80,000 units — an 80% year-on-year jump — while global cumulative sales of the C-series crossed the 800,000 mark.
That performance didn't come easy. From the T03 keeping the brand alive, to the C11 making its mark, followed by the C10 and C16 filling out the ranks, Leapmotor spent five years building a core product lineup covering the 120,000 to 200,000 yuan market, featuring both pure electric and range-extending powertrains.
On June 16, the C10, C11, and C16 were refreshed simultaneously. This move serves as a direct response to 800,000 users, and more importantly, a comprehensive test of the brand's product strength now that it has found its footing.
A Three-Car Refresh
The signal behind this upgrade is clear: with hardware already competitive, Leapmotor is moving to address its historically acknowledged weaknesses — chassis ride quality, intelligent driving, and interior texture — all in one go.
This is no minor tweak; it carries the weight of a mid-cycle refresh. All three annual updated models now feature the Qualcomm SA8295P cockpit chip, paired with a 60-inch AR-HUD and a 17.3-inch central control screen. High-spec versions of the C11 and C16 also add a 23-speaker PSS audio system.
Image Source: Leapmotor
Visually, the C10 range-extender and pure electric versions now share a unified design language. The entire lineup adopts split headlight assemblies, with high and low beam lights integrated with turn-assist functions. A new "Cloud Habitat Gold" paint uses an ultra-fine aluminum powder spraying process for a soft, misty metallic finish. Inside, a warm Sandstone Brown color scheme has been added, with extensive soft-touch materials elevating cabin quality.
The powertrain received tangible hardware upgrades. The new C10 pure electric version's rear-drive motor power increased from 220kW to 230kW, while the range-extender version jumped from 170kW to 200kW. The C16 range-extender also sees its motor power rise to 200kW, with a slight increase in pure electric range. All three pure electric versions are built on a full-domain 800V silicon carbide high-voltage platform, giving the C10 a range of 605km and a 30%-80% charging time of just 16 minutes.
What truly creates a generational gap is the upgrade in chassis tuning and intelligent driving. To address user complaints about the "boat-like" feel and "brake nodding" in the previous C10, all three models now come standard with FSD variable damping shock absorbers. Following specialized tuning by the chassis team, comfortable braking and vibration filtering performance are expected to improve significantly.
In terms of intelligence, specifications across the three models have been largely leveled. High-spec versions upgrade to the Qualcomm 8650 driving chip (200 TOPS of computing power), equipped with a Hesai lidar and 28 sensing hardware units. This supports highway NOA, urban commuting navigation, memory parking, and door-to-door pilot assistance. A new auxiliary driving status indicator — a "little blue light" — has been added to help drivers identify the system's operating status in real time.
Leapmotor's urban navigation assistance officially began its nationwide rollout on May 16, no longer restricted to specific regions.
Image Source: Leapmotor
The C10 adds a hidden folding tray table behind the front seat backrests. The C16 offers both five- and six-seat layouts. The five-seater supports electric one-touch folding of the second row into a flat bed, while the six-seater adds 190mm of lateral slide rails for the second row and widens the central aisle to a maximum of 190mm, making access to the third row easier.
The core logic behind this refresh is clear: facing a market where user demands are becoming increasingly refined, Leapmotor has shifted its upgrade focus from impressive specifications to practical usability.
How the C-Series Became Leapmotor's Foundation
The C-series earned its current status the hard way, accompanying Leapmotor on a difficult uphill climb. Roll back to 2020, and Leapmotor looked nothing like it does today.
Following the dismal launch of its first coupe, the S01, in 2019, the brand was quickly marginalized by the market. Leapmotor CEO Zhu Jiangming later recalled that 2020 was his toughest year; the first C11 nearly miscarried due to a broken funding chain.
The turning point came in mid-2020: Leapmotor launched the T03 micro EV. Priced under 100,000 yuan, this small car entered the market with high value for money, pulling the precarious brand back from the cliff's edge. Yet relying on a micro car for survival is not a long-term strategy; Leapmotor had to break into higher segments.
Image Source: Leapmotor
In 2021, Leapmotor placed its bet on the C11. It was the company's first entry into the 100,000 to 200,000 yuan mainstream market, offering mid-size SUV dimensions at a compact SUV price point. The strategy paid off immediately: cumulative sales of the C11 surpassed 250,000 units, making it the core pillar of Leapmotor's profitability and helping the brand establish a foothold in the fiercely competitive mainstream family market.
Subsequently, Leapmotor launched the more affordable C10 in 2024. That same year, the C16 debuted with a "half-price Li Auto" positioning and quickly became a hit in the six-seat family market.
Thus, the C-series has formed a clear product matrix: the C10 targets young first-time families around the 120,000 yuan mark; the C11 locks in quality-focused commuters at 150,000 yuan; and the C16 focuses on multi-child families at 180,000 yuan. Together, these three models cover the full spectrum from compact to mid- and large-size SUVs, creating a tiered pricing structure.
To date, global cumulative sales of the C-series have surpassed 800,000 units. In May 2026, Leapmotor's total deliveries reached 81,500 units, an 81% year-on-year increase, with the C10, C11, and C16 contributing over 20,000 units combined. The C-series is not only the sales backbone for Leapmotor but also supports the brand's entire foundation with its core price range of 120,000 to 180,000 yuan.
For Leapmotor, the three-car refresh is more than just a product iteration; it is a concentrated response to the core demands of family users now that the brand has secured a leading position. Those 800,000 sales came from these users, and the continued upgrading of the C-series will determine whether Leapmotor can keep moving steadily forward in this mass market.
