Leapmotor plans to launch its second automotive brand in Q4 2027, expanding into higher price segments and new EV product categories. The company confirmed the plan during a media briefing on Thursday. Leapmotor founder, chairman and CEO Zhu Jiangming said current EVs still largely follow the design logic and functional definitions of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. The new brand aims to create a “new form” of EVs, similar to how Apple’s iPhone reshaped the smartphone industry. 2026 Leapmotor Techday group interview. Previous reports suggested the second brand will sit above Leapmotor’s existing lineup, with target pricing around RMB 300K ($44.7K). Zhu said the company is not simply developing a more expensive model, but looking to redefine how future vehicles are used. A key focus will be achieving more than 100% “usable space efficiency.” Leapmotor senior vice president Cao Li said the new brand will position vehicles as “mobile spaces” rather than simple transportation tools. Through interior innovation, advanced driver assistance systems and new vehicle architectures, future cars could take on functions of hotels, offices, camping spaces and even cafes. Leapmotor’s latest mobile space architecture. Zhu said the second brand will introduce major innovations in cabin space by redesigning vehicle structures to break traditional automotive limitations. As autonomous driving capabilities improve, he believes cars will gradually evolve from transportation products into new living spaces. The brand will also leverage several technologies unveiled at Leapmotor Tech Day, including a new hybrid architecture, direct-drive plug-in hybrid system, self-developed battery cells and highly integrated thermal management systems. The direct-drive PHEV system is mainly designed for overseas markets, combining daily electric commuting with long-distance travel capability. Leapmotor is also increasing investment in in-house development and production of key components. The company said its lithium iron phosphate battery cell production capacity can currently support 500K-600K vehicles annually, with a long-term target of reaching 1M vehicles. Leapmotor’s latest Multi-Mode Intelligent. The company is already in a rapid growth phase. In August, Leapmotor delivered 103,129 vehicles globally, marking the second consecutive month above 100K units and making it the first Chinese EV startup to surpass 100K monthly deliveries this year. Asked how the company plans to sustain its momentum, Zhu said Leapmotor expanded its product lineup this year to cover the RMB 50K-300K ($7.5K-$44.7K) price range, with several new models filling previous gaps. The second brand, upcoming products and overseas expansion will become new growth drivers. Leapmotor in 2026 Chengdu Auto Show. Leapmotor’s growth strategy has so far focused on expanding its lineup and controlling costs to cover more price segments. The second brand will represent a significant departure from that approach. Whether concepts such as “mobile space” and “over 100% usable space efficiency” can gain consumer acceptance will depend on the final product. By Q4 2027, the market will likely be watching not just the price of Leapmotor’s second brand, but whether buyers are willing to embrace this new vehicle concept.