Leapmotor strolls onto Irish driveways
Published on 20th October 2025 at 08:31
Leapmotor marked its official arrival in the Irish market, heralding a completely new
Chinese brand to consider among those already making their presence known, amid
the established brands that are firmly etched on our buying choices.
Talking with James Brooks, Managing Director of Leapmotor and a very experienced
voice within the Irish Motor Industry, he reminded me of the time when we were
witnessing the influx of Japanese and Korean brands onto the nations forecourts.
Now we welcome the Chinese brands, with their very definite flavour on our motor-
menu, the excitement in James’s eyes hard to disguise, as he and his team introduced
two new models to entice the Irish customer.
Hitting the ground running, James told me that they had appointed four new dealers
in recent weeks, his optimism very much calm and contained, as he confidentially
outlined the high level of standard equipment, value for money and build quality of
his new electric charge.
Coming with a 6-year/unlimited mileage warranty across the Leapmotor model line-
up in Ireland, ahead of the fast-approaching 261 sales period. Already on dealer
forecourts, the Leapmotor’s T03 compact car (265km WLTP), retails from €18,995
plus delivery related charges - the C10 large family SUV (420km WLTP), retails from
€38,995 for the all-electric version or from €45,420 for the REEV (Range-Extended
Electric Vehicle) version that delivers a combined 975km,
Possibly a new term to infuse into your motoring dictionary is inherent in
Leapmotor’s C10 REEV, a ‘Range-Extended Electric Vehicle’ that runs exclusively on
electric power. Here, a 1.5-litre petrol engine functions solely as a “generator” to
recharge the battery when required. Unlike plug-in hybrids or self-charging hybrids,
the engine never drives the wheels, ensuring the smooth performance and zero-
emission driving of an EV, while delivering a combined WLTP range of up to 975km
(comprising 145km of pure electric driving and a further 830km courtesy of the
range-extending generator).
Leapmotor C10 REEV delivers a combined WLTP range of up to 975km, retailing
from €45,420.
Brand Manager, Stephen McGrath, gleefully informed me of the imminent arrival of
two further Leapmotor models, the new Leapmotor B10 mid-sized SUV, recently
making an appearance at the IAA Mobility show in Munich, will arrive on forecourts
this November, followed by the new Leapmotor B05 family hatchback in 2026. By
the end of 2027, a further two models will arrive in Ireland to further elevate the
comprehensive model line-up.
Leapmotor Dealers
Since being appointed National Importer in May 2025, Gowan Auto has set
Leapmotor Ireland on a rapid path to public launch, appointing an expanding
network of trusted retail partners:
Joe Norris Motors (Navan, Co. Meath)
Dan Seaman Motors (Forge Hill, Co. Cork)
Greenhall Motors (Buttevant, Co. Cork)
Kenny Galway (Tuam Road, Galway).
Further dealer announcements will follow in the coming weeks. The appointments to
date within Gowan Auto’s established retail network will ensure accessible sales and
aftersales support across the country. This strong retail foundation means
Leapmotor C10 and T03 are now available for customer test drives.
So as you know
Leapmotor International is a strategic partnership between Stellantis, one of the
world’s largest mobility companies, and Leapmotor, one of the leading, and fastest-
growing, Chinese vehicle brands globally. The brand has officially celebrated the roll-
out of its one millionth vehicle globally, becoming only the second new Chinese car
manufacturer to reach this elite “Million Club” status.
The new Leapmotor B05 hatchback was recently unveiled at IAA Mobility Munich.
Gowan Auto, National Importer for Leapmotor in Ireland, is the exclusive importer
and distributor of Stellantis brands in Ireland including Alfa Romeo, Citroën, DS
Automobiles, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep, Opel, and Peugeot, together with Honda.
