Tesla Faces New Chinese EV Competition as Leapmotor Enters Luxury Segment
Tesla's recent sales recovery in China faces fresh challenges as Stellantis-backed Leapmotor unveils its D19 luxury SUV, priced aggressively below Tesla's Model Y. The MOVE signals intensifying competition in China's premium EV market, where domestic players are increasingly targeting Tesla's dominance with larger, longer-range vehicles.
Leapmotor CEO Zhu Jiangming frames the company's upmarket push as a "mission" to deliver high-end EVs at accessible prices. "We've spent years refining our technology to offer sophisticated models that outperform on value," Jiangming stated at Thursday's launch event. The strategy mirrors broader industry efforts by Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi to erode Tesla's premium positioning.