Leapmotor T03
Kai ZhangEditor-in-ChiefLast verified 2 Sept 2026Who makes it — and will Leapmotor last?
The T03 is made by Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology (零跑汽车), a Hangzhou-based EV maker founded in 2015 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The crucial point for UK buyers: Stellantis holds a 51% controlling stake in Leapmotor International (LPMI), the joint venture that handles all sales outside China. That is the same Stellantis behind Peugeot, Vauxhall, Citroën, and Fiat. Your T03 is sold and serviced through a 79-strong Stellantis UK retailer network — not a standalone Chinese startup operation. Leapmotor itself turned its first annual profit in 2025 (CN¥540 million), having delivered 596,555 vehicles — double the 2024 figure. FAW Group also took a 5% stake in December 2025, adding further financial depth. Survival risk is rated low-medium: Leapmotor is profitable and backed by a major European automaker, though Stellantis itself posted a €22.3 billion net loss in 2025 (with €46 billion in liquidity held).
What the Chinese market actually says
The T03 launched in China in May 2020 and sold over 264,000 units across its life — a genuine mass-market success. By 2024 it peaked at nearly 67,000 annual sales in China. However, the T03 was discontinued in China in 2026, replaced by the newer A10 (B03X) and A05. UK buyers are purchasing what is effectively an export continuation of a model that China has moved on from — that context matters. Chinese owner feedback on Autohome gives the T03 a 4.54/5.0 score from 2,571 reviews, with the strongest praise for urban economy and running costs. The consistent weakness noted across five years of Chinese ownership: highway instability (body feels light above 80–90 km/h when large lorries pass) and high-speed wind and tyre noise. These are fundamental to the lightweight platform, not fixable by software.
China version vs UK version — what's different
The UK T03 is a simplified single-specification export of a model that China offered in multiple battery sizes and power options over six years. Some features present in higher Chinese trims never made it to the UK: 360-degree cameras are absent, there is no rear wiper (universally noted by UK press), and there is no heat pump — which will noticeably affect winter range in the UK. The most significant omission for tech-minded buyers is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: neither is available at launch, despite OTA availability in China since 2023. Leapmotor has promised an OTA fix with no confirmed date. Do not buy expecting CarPlay to arrive imminently. The T03 is also assembled in Jinhua, China (Poland assembly ended March 2025), so it is subject to the EU/UK tariff — which Leapmotor currently absorbs rather than passing on.
UK essentials — price, range, charging, warranty
From 1 July 2026, the T03 is priced at £12,995 OTR with the LEAP-GRANT — a £3,000 manufacturer subsidy (this is Leapmotor's own discount, not a UK government grant; verify current availability with your dealer). The list price without the grant is £15,995. It delivers 165 miles of official WLTP range from a 37.3 kWh LFP battery. Real-world figures from UK press tests: around 115 miles in cold weather (Car Magazine winter test), 144 miles on mixed commuting (What Car?). DC charging is limited to 48 kW — adequate for a city car but slow compared with newer rivals such as the Citroën e-C3 (100 kW). The T03 has not been crash-tested by Euro NCAP as of July 2026, and no insurance group has been assigned. The warranty is 4 years/60,000 miles for the vehicle and 8 years/100,000 miles for the battery — the same as the Leapmotor B10.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does the Leapmotor T03 cost?
- From 1 July 2026, the T03 is priced at £12,995 OTR with Leapmotor's own LEAP-GRANT discount of £3,000 — this is a manufacturer subsidy, not a UK government grant, so check current availability with your dealer. Without the grant, the list price is £15,995.
- Does the Leapmotor T03 have Apple CarPlay?
- No, not at UK launch in July 2026. Android Auto is also unavailable, despite China having had CarPlay since a 2023 facelift. Leapmotor has promised an OTA fix but has not confirmed a date, so buyers should not expect it to arrive imminently.
- What is the range of the Leapmotor T03?
- The T03 has an official WLTP range of 165 miles from its 37.3 kWh LFP battery. Real-world UK press tests recorded around 115 miles in cold weather and 144 miles in mixed commuting use, reflecting the lack of a heat pump on both UK and China models.
- Has the Leapmotor T03 been crash tested by Euro NCAP?
- No. The T03 had not been crash-tested by Euro NCAP as of July 2026, and Leapmotor has indicated it may not pursue a rating for this model. No insurance group has been assigned either. Its sibling, the Leapmotor B10, scored 4 stars in December 2025.
- Is Leapmotor backed by a bigger company that will support UK owners?
- Yes. Stellantis holds a 51% controlling stake in Leapmotor International, the joint venture behind all Leapmotor sales outside China, and the T03 is sold and serviced through a 79-strong Stellantis UK retailer network. Leapmotor also turned its first annual profit in 2025, with 596,555 vehicles delivered.
The short version
- The T03 fills a genuine gap: it is the most affordable new car in the UK regardless of fuel type, and the Stellantis dealer network removes the uncertainty that plagues many Chinese brands. For pure urban commuting — under 100 miles per day, parking at home, no motorway requirement — it makes a compelling case. The problems are just as clear. The 48 kW DC charging rate is the slowest in its competitive set. There is no Euro NCAP rating and no insurance group assigned, which will concern buyers and fleet operators. The absence of CarPlay with no confirmed fix date is a real daily frustration. And the highway instability noted by Chinese owners is confirmed by UK press — this is not a car for regular motorway journeys. It is a city car: use it as one and it delivers; expect more and it will disappoint.
- The T03 fills a genuine gap: it is the most affordable new car in the UK regardless of fuel type, and the Stellantis dealer network removes the uncertainty that plagues many Chinese brands. For pure urban commuting — under 100 miles per day, parking at home, no motorway requirement — it makes a compelling case. The problems are just as clear. The 48 kW DC charging rate is the slowest in its competitive set. There is no Euro NCAP rating and no insurance group assigned, which will concern buyers and fleet operators. The absence of CarPlay with no confirmed fix date is a real daily frustration. And the highway instability noted by Chinese owners is confirmed by UK press — this is not a car for regular motorway journeys. It is a city car: use it as one and it delivers; expect more and it will disappoint.
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How we verify: AI-assisted research gathers Chinese owner reviews & pricing; a person checks high-stakes facts (UK price, range, warranty, safety); Kai Zhang signs off before publish. Anything still unchecked is labelled.
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