Chinese EV automaker Leapmotor is teasing its latest SUV model and the first to arrive on its new “B Platform” architecture. The company posted initial images of its B10 compact SUV before the new EV model makes its debut at the Paris Auto Show alongside joint venture partner Stellantis.
Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology Co., Ltd., better known as Leapmotor is a publicly traded EV automaker in China founded in 2015. During its current run, Leapmotor has brought five New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) to market, including the T03 city car and the C01, C10, C11, and C16 SUVs. The company offers all its models as both (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) variants, except the T03, which is fully electric only.
Leapmotor is unique in that it was one of the first Chinese automakers to establish a strategic partnership with a European automaker in Stellantis. In October 2023, Stellantis took a $1.6 billion stake in the Chinese automaker, forming a joint venture to sell its vehicles in Europe.
By March of this year, the JV was approved as Leapmotor International, giving Stellantis exclusive rights to build and sell its new partner’s EVs outside China. By June, Stellantis had already begun production of the T03 in Europe before officially launching alongside the C10 this week.
Today, Leapmotor began teasing its next generation of SUV, which will make its official debut with Stellantis in Paris next month before entering markets in China and Europe.
Leapmotor’s B10 SUV to debut in Paris, launch globally
Leapmotor shared the three images of its new B10 SUV on its Weibo page earlier today, teasing the new model ahead of its debut at the Paris Auto Show, which begins on October 14, 2024.
The B10 will be the first electric model to debut on Leapmotor’s new B Platform. This platform features the automaker’s latest Leap 3.5 Technology Architecture, designed to “provide young people around the world with top-notch new energy products.” The B10 will be the first of several new models on the platform to hit the market by 2025.
According to Leapmotor, the B10 is classified as a compact SUV similar in size to the BMW X1. It is expected to compete against other BEV models like the Onvo L60 from NIO.
Leapmotor’s JV partner Stellantis will also have a prominent presence at the Paris Auto Show next month, and a recent release detailing its premieres included a blurb about its Chinese partner and the new B10 SUV:
Leapmotor will present its tech-centric, affordable electric mobility solutions. Leapmotor Founder, Chairman and CEO Zhu Jiangming, together with Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, will unveil the all-new B10, a C-segment SUV, expanding its product line-up in Europe’s core segment through this unique partnership in the automotive industry. This highly anticipated model is the first global model based on Leapmotor’s new B platform, marking a significant step in Leapmotor’s strategic growth in the region by bringing its advanced technology to an even broader audience.
Leapmotor will also present the C10, a fully equipped, family-oriented D-segment electric SUV, and the Leapmotor T03, a compact A-segment urban EV with B-segment interior space. The Leapmotor C10, built on the LEAP3.0 technology architecture, features central integrated electronic and electrical architecture, cell-to-chassis (CTC) technology, and a flagship intelligent cockpit.
Per Stellantis, Leapmotor International is launching operations in Europe now, beginning with T03 and C10 models through 350 sales points globally by the year’s end. The Leapmotor B10 SUV will follow after it makes its official debut in Paris.
We will be sure to report back when we learn more about the B10’s specs and pricing.
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The Mockingbird Solar Center, Ørsted’s largest solar project globally, is now online, next to protected prairie donated by the renewable energy giant.
This massive 468-megawatt (MW) solar farm is set to power 80,000 homes and businesses, providing a major boost to the Texas grid.
But the launch of Mockingbird Solar isn’t just about clean energy – it’s also about restoring precious ecosystems. Ørsted has donated 953 acres of the Smiley-Woodfin Native Prairie Grassland, which sits next to the solar center, to The Nature Conservancy. The donated land is now the Smiley Meadow Preserve, a protected area for tallgrass prairie that’s home to more than 400 species of grasses and wildflowers.
Tallgrass prairies are some of the rarest ecosystems in the US, with less than 1% of Texas’ original tallgrass prairies still in existence. Tallgrass prairie does a lot of heavy lifting for the environment, including storing carbon, preventing floods, and providing crucial habitats for pollinators.
“Native prairies are the rarest landscapes left in Texas – so much so that many people have never seen one,” said David Bezanson, land protection strategy program director for The Nature Conservancy in Texas. He added that preserving Smiley Meadow will not only conserve one of the best prairie remnants left but also help restore other prairie habitats and boost regional biodiversity.
The Mockingbird Solar Center, a half-billion-dollar project, is part of Ørsted’s $20 billion push to expand renewable energy production across the US. Beyond generating electricity, it will inject $75 million into local property taxes, benefiting schools and other public services. The project also created over 550 construction jobs and will continue to be supported by operations staff moving forward.
Ørsted worked with US companies, including First Solar, for solar panels and partnered with local businesses like Drake Construction and Pfifer Farms for construction materials. It also gave more than $50,000 to local volunteer fire departments in Roxton and Brookston.
With Mockingbird Solar now up and running, Ørsted has more than 6 gigawatts of onshore wind, solar, and battery storage projects either in operation or being built across the US.
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CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Friday said companies related to natural gas and oil will thrive under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration and a majority Republican Congress.
“We’re hearing about all sorts of Trump trades right now, and many of these things have made insane moves in less than three weeks, to the point where, actually, they’re feeling precarious to me,” he said. “If you want a sustainable Trump trade, I say bet on the natural gas ecosystem. This is an industry that already had a lot going for it, it just needed some cooperation from the federal government, which it is about to get.”
President Joe Biden’s administration is largely opposed to fossil fuels, Cramer said, and the federal government has worked to block pipelines and paused new liquified gas export authorizations. This dynamic, coupled with a weaker global economy, caused the sector to underperform for much of the year, he suggested. But Trump has shown more favor to the industry, and Cramer pointed out that he tapped prominent oil executive Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy.
Cramer recommended several stocks in the sector, including energy producers EQT and Coterra. The former is focused on natural gas and recently acquired peer Equitrans, raising the combined company’s valuation to an estimated $35 billion, Cramer noted. He added that Coterra is a good long-term holding and called the company “one of the shrewdest operators in the industry.”
He highlighted pipeline companies, including Energy Transfer and Kinder Morgan, and said he was especially bullish on Enbridge. Enbridge says it transports about 20% of all natural gas consumed in the U.S., and Cramer claimed the Canadian outfit has “strategically located assets.”He also named Cheniere and Sempra, saying the former is the “best play” for liquified natural gas exports.
“Seasonally, this is a good time for the commodity,” he said, pointing out that natural gas itself has climbed since the election. “But I also think there’s some optimism about the future of the industry driving this move.”
Jeep’s first global luxury electric SUV will arrive at US dealerships any day. Despite its $72,000 price tag, lease prices for the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV start at just $599 per month.
Jeep claims the Wagoneer S packs “exhilarating performance.” With 600 hp and 617 lb-ft of torque, the big-body SUV can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Its 100 kWh battery pack also gives it a driving range of over 300 miles.
The electric SUV is unmistakably still a Jeep, but it did get several upgrades to distinguish it as an EV. The grille is now enclosed without the need to cool a massive engine, giving it a sporty, more modern look.
Jeep revamped its design with a new illuminated seven-slot grille with ambient cast lightning. It also fine-tuned its profile, adding flush door handles, a rear wing, and integrated fins for better airflow.
The first Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition models get exclusive dark accent design elements like 20″ Gloss Black Wheels.
Inside, the electric SUV is loaded with the latest tech and connectivity, including a best-in-class 45″ of usable screen space. The setup includes a 12.3″ center screen and an exclusive 10.25″ interactive front passenger screen.
Jeep already announced that the 2024 Wagoneer S EV will start at $71,995, but now the company has revealed lease prices for the first time.
According to Jeep, the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition can be leased for $599 per month for 36 months (10,000 miles per year). The deal includes $4,999 due at signing and a $7,500 EV incentive. However, you may want to act fast, as Jeep’s offer is only good until December 2, 2024.
Jeep Wagoneer S vs Tesla Model Y
Starting Price
Range
Lease Price
Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition
$71,995
+300 miles
$599/mo
Tesla Model Y RWD
$44,990
320 miles
$299/mo
Tesla Model Y AWD
$47,990
308 miles
$399/mo
Tesla Model Y AWD Performance
$51,490
279 miles
$599/mo
In comparison, Tesla Model Y RWD lease prices start at $299 for 36 months with $2,999 down (10,000 miles). The Performance AWD model starts at $599 per month. In an end-of-year promo, Tesla also offers 3 months of free Supercharging and Full Self-Driving.
Ready to drive off in your new electric SUV? We can help you get started. You can use our links below to view offers on the Jeep Wagoneer S and Tesla Model Y at a dealer near you.
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