A major Chinese car brand has officially launched its first electric vehicle models in the UK market in a move to encourage drivers to ditch petrol and diesel models.
Leapmotor has introduced two new models with the intention of disrupting the established market with competitive pricing and advanced technology.
The launch marks a significant expansion for the Chinese EV maker which has entered the UK market through its partnership with Stellantis by introducing the T03 city car and C10 SUV.
The T03 aims to become one of the most affordable electric vehicles in the UK with a starting price of £15,995.The compact five-door model offers up to 165 miles on a single charge.
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The Leapmotor T03 has an electric battery range of up to 165 miles
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Meanwhile, the C10 SUV targets the family market with a competitive price point of £36,500. It has a combined range of up to 261 miles.
The Chinese manufacturer plans to introduce one new vehicle annually over the next three years. Recent research indicated growing consumer interest in Chinese electric vehicles, driven primarily by their competitive pricing.
A study found that one in 10 potential UK buyers would consider Chinese vehicles with just a 10 per cent price reduction compared to established brands.
Younger buyers under 35 were seen to be particularly receptive to Chinese brands, with 19 per cent requiring only up to a 10 per cent price reduction to consider purchasing.
Throughout the UK Chinese manufacturers have been gaining increasing coverage with MG and BYD now ranking among the top 25 most familiar car brands.
BYD emerged as being particularly popular in the UK, with almost one in three drivers saying they would consider the brand.
Mark Carpenter, managing director of Escalent UK, which commissioned the research, said: "We found that at the generic level, the credibility of goods from China tends to trail other countries by a large margin.
"But when the focus is on cars that gap is already a little smaller, with people willing to change their mind for a car that's of comparable price and quality."
"This focus on brand alongside a price offer that is likely to be less than alternatives could change the EV car landscape in Europe very quickly."
Across Europe, attitudes towards Chinese EVs have also been changing with Italy and Spain showing more willingness to buy one provided they have larger price reductions than competitors.
The increasing interest in EVs comes as the UK looks to ramp up its efforts to encourage drivers to move away from petrol and diesel vehicles as part of the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate.
The mandate looks to phase out new petrol and diesel car sales by 2035 with at least 28 per cent of sales coming from electric vehicles by the end of the year.
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Leapmotor hopes to introduce one new electric vehicle every year in the UK
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As more Chinese brands come to the UK, sales could increase dramatically as research shows that 72 per cent of new car buyers expect Chinese vehicles to be cheaper than established brands.
