Leapmotor C11 History
History
Revealed at the Guangzhou Auto Show in December 2020, the C11 was Leapmotor's third production model and its entry into the critical SUV segment. It went on sale in China in 2021 as a mid-size crossover powered by dual electric motors producing up to 400 kW and offering approximately 600 km NEDC range in long-range BEV trim. The C11 runs Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8155 chip for infotainment and Leapmotor's own Lingxin 01 AI chip enabling Level 3-capable autonomous driving features — a notable piece of vertical integration for a young EV startup.
A range-extender (EREV) variant was added to broaden appeal in markets with limited charging infrastructure. The C11 was built on the same platform as the C01 sedan, sharing that car's chassis and powertrain architecture. Updated C11 variants have continued to appear, with a refreshed model launching in mid-2025 at a starting price of around $20,900 (equivalent), keeping the nameplate competitive in an increasingly crowded Chinese mid-size-SUV segment.
Generations
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First generation · C11
Leapmotor's first SUV — a mid-size crossover revealed at Guangzhou in December 2020 and on sale from 2021, later joined by an EREV range-extender variant.
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2021 Photo: “File:2021 Leapmotor C11, front 8.17.23.jpg” by Kevauto / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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2022 Photo: “File:Leapmotor C11 2022-02-06-01.jpg” by Joraking9824 / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
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2023 Photo: “File:Leapmotor C11 IAA 2023 1X7A0243.jpg” by Alexander-93 / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
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Body styles
- 4-door SUV
Notable special editions & performance variants
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C11 EREV
Range-extender version of the C11 with a 1.5-litre petrol engine acting as a generator, extending driving range for buyers in areas with limited charging networks.
Related models