title: "Leapmotor Opens Munich R&D Hub as Exports Surpass 100,000 Units" slug: leapmotor-munich-rd-hub date: 2026-03-22 category: industry tags: [leapmotor, stellantis, rd, europe, china] source_url: "https://cnevpost.com/2026/03/21/leapmotor-launches-1st-overseas-rd-hub-germany/"
Stellantis-backed Leapmotor has opened its first overseas R&D center in Munich's Schwabing-Freimann district. The facility focuses on design iterations and concept development, joining existing studios in Hangzhou and Shanghai. The company frames it as a shift from "exporting products to exporting design."
The timing aligns with Leapmotor's surging export numbers. Cumulative exports through February 2026 exceed 100,000 units. In 2025, Leapmotor shipped 67,052 vehicles internationally, making it the top emerging Chinese EV brand in exports and placing it among the top three pure EV sellers in Europe.
The Numbers
Leapmotor's 2025 financials tell a growth story: net income of 540 million yuan ($78.4 million), annual revenue of 64.73 billion yuan (up 101.3%), and 596,555 vehicles delivered (up 103.1%). The 2026 target is over 1 million deliveries.
Pipeline
The B10 model is in local manufacturing with commercial production scheduled for October 2026. The B05 enters trial production in June 2026 with local production in 2027. The A10 (known as B03X in overseas markets) launches March 26 in China and targets approximately 40 countries.
Munich gives Leapmotor proximity to European engineering talent and automotive suppliers, plus the symbolic credibility of a Chinese EV brand setting up R&D where BMW was born. Whether the design output justifies the investment depends on how effectively the Munich team integrates with Hangzhou's development cycle.
