Leapmotor Launches A05 From Under $10,000, With Lidar Pilot Assist on the Top Trim

Leapmotor, China's hottest EV startup right now, just launched its second A-series model, and the pricing is aggressive even by Chinese standards.

The A05 went on sale in Hangzhou on August 11 in five trims, starting at RMB 63,900 (about $9,500). The five trims are priced at RMB 63,900 (~$9,500) for the 405 Comfort, RMB 67,900 (11,300) for the 510 Enjoyment, RMB 85,900 ($12,700) for the 510 Lidar and RMB 90,900 (~$13,500) for the 510S Special Edition.

The A05 is a standard A0-segment five-door, five-seat electric hatchback, measuring 4,200 mm (165 inches) long with a 2,605 mm (103 inches) wheelbase. It rides on a floating roof design, a wide rear end and 17-inch sport wheels with the brand's distinctive Xixi headlamps. The 510S Special Edition adds a Morgan Pink two-tone exterior, suede-style interior trim and embroidered headrests.

Cargo is a selling point. The boot holds 474 liters with a two-tier layout, expanding to 1,308 liters with the rear seats folded. A family-first 91-liter washable underfloor bin lets owners hose down oversized fish or muddy boots directly.

The seats are flexible too. The driver's seat reclines 149 degrees, the rear seats fold flat into a camping bed, and the front passenger seat folds forward 90 degrees to free up space for pets.

The 510 Lidar trim is the tech highlight. It pairs a lidar unit with a Qualcomm 8650 chip to support parking-to-parking pilot assist across city streets, highways and parking lots, plus HPA memory parking and a blue ADAS status light. It is the only model in its segment with advanced driver assistance. The cabin runs on a Qualcomm 8295 chip with microphone-free karaoke and a 12-speaker audio system, while even the base trim gets a 14.6-inch 2.5K center screen with a Snapdragon 8155.

Powertrains are split by range. The 405 versions use a 70 kW (94 hp) oil-cooled drive unit with a 39.8 kWh LFP battery for 405 km (252 miles) of CLTC range. The 510 versions upgrade to a 90 kW (121 hp) unit and a 53 kWh pack for 510 km (317 miles), with 30-to-80 percent fast charging in as little as 16 minutes.

The A05 goes straight at BYD's Seagull (RMB 69,800 to 85,800, about $10,300 to $12,700) and Geely's Xingyuan (RMB 68,800 to 98,800, about $10,200 to $14,600). The Seagull wins on brand and battery reputation, the Xingyuan on suspension and track record. Neither offers lidar or city navigation.

The A05 arrives right after Leapmotor became China's first EV startup to deliver 100,000 cars in a single month. A sub-$10,000 hatchback with a lidar option shows exactly how it plans to keep that momentum going.