The Leapmotor B03X is a EUR 23,995 electric SUV, and that price already includes the tariffs
A price that should worry every mainstream carmaker in Europe
Here is a price to make established carmakers wince. The new Leapmotor B03X, a compact electric SUV, is now on sale in Europe from just 23,995 euro. That alone is remarkable value, but the genuinely crazy detail is that this price already includes the EU's import tariffs on Chinese-built cars. In other words, even after the taxes designed to level the playing field, it is still shockingly cheap.
The tariff twist
This is the part that really lands. The EU has been rolling out import tariffs specifically to blunt the price advantage of Chinese-built cars, a story we have followed as the bloc prepares tariffs on Chinese vehicles. Yet the B03X still launches at 23,995 euro with those tariffs already baked in. It is a striking illustration of just how big a cost advantage some Chinese manufacturers have, and it helps that Leapmotor is sold in Europe through the Stellantis group, giving it an established dealer and distribution network from day one.
What your money buys
Crucially, this is not a stripped-out penalty box. The B03X is a proper compact crossover at 4,270 mm long, with two motor choices making 176 hp or 197 hp, 0-100 km/h in 8.6 seconds and a 160 km/h top speed. Buyers pick between LFP batteries of 39.8 or 53.0 kWh, for 292 to 382 km of WLTP range, with fast charging from 30 to 80 percent in around 16 minutes. Inside there is a flat cargo floor, flexible storage and the Leap OS 4.0 infotainment system with smartphone integration. The range tops out at 26,995 euro for the ProMax Life and 28,495 euro for the ProMax Design.
The competition should be nervous
At this money, the B03X lands right on top of Europe's affordable EV darlings and undercuts many of them. Even a value champion like the Hyundai Inster suddenly has serious competition, and it shows why Chinese brands are gaining ground so quickly, just as BYD cracked 2 percent of the Belgian market. Affordable, usable electric SUVs are exactly what many buyers have been waiting for.
AutoNext Take
Let's be blunt: 23,995 euro for a usable electric crossover, with import tariffs already included, is borderline absurd, and it is brilliant news for buyers. Electric cars have been criticised for years as too expensive, so a genuinely affordable, decently specced EV SUV is exactly what the market needs to push adoption. The clever move is selling it through Stellantis, which hands Leapmotor instant credibility and a dealer network most newcomers can only dream of. For established brands, though, this is a flashing warning light: if a Chinese EV can be this cheap even after tariffs, the old pricing model is in real trouble. We cannot wait to drive one.
