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Leapmotor B10 Expands Chinese EV Presence in North America
Chinese automaker Leapmotor has officially entered the Mexican market with the new B10 crossover, strengthening its expansion across North America as more Chinese EV brands target the region despite growing trade barriers in the United States.
The Leapmotor B10 North America expansion marks another major step in China’s global electric vehicle strategy. Backed by Stellantis, Leapmotor has launched the B10 crossover in Mexico, a market that has rapidly become one of the fastest-growing destinations for Chinese electric vehicles.
While the United States continues imposing heavy tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, manufacturers are increasingly focusing on neighboring countries as they expand their international footprint.
Leapmotor launches the B10 in Mexico
The Leapmotor B10 North America strategy begins with Mexico, where the company will sell the crossover through Stellantis dealerships.
The B10 is an extended-range electric crossover priced at approximately 575,000 Mexican pesos (around $33,000). According to Leapmotor, the vehicle delivers up to 990 kilometers (615 miles) of total driving range and features a large central touchscreen along with advanced connectivity technologies.
Leapmotor has experienced rapid global growth, selling more than 356,000 vehicles during the first half of 2026, nearly doubling its sales compared to the same period last year.
The Leapmotor B10 officially launches in Mexico as part of the brand’s North American expansion.
Mexico becomes a key market for Chinese EV brands
Mexico has become one of the most important markets for Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers.
According to recent industry data, plug-in vehicle sales tripled during the past year, with Chinese brands accounting for roughly 85% of imported EV sales.
Companies including BYD, Geely, and SAIC-GM-Wuling are also expanding their presence in the country, with some planning local production facilities to strengthen their long-term position in the region.
Leapmotor’s arrival further intensifies competition in one of the fastest-growing EV markets in North America.
Chinese automakers continue expanding their presence in the Mexican EV market.
Could Chinese EVs eventually reach the United States?
Although the United States maintains tariffs exceeding 100% on Chinese-built electric vehicles, industry analysts believe Mexico and Canada could become strategic gateways for future expansion.
Several Chinese automakers are already increasing investments across North America, positioning themselves for potential long-term growth if trade conditions eventually change.
For now, however, manufacturers continue prioritizing markets outside the U.S. while building production capacity and expanding dealer networks throughout the region.
Chinese EV manufacturers continue strengthening their North American strategy beyond the U.S. market.
The Leapmotor B10 North America launch highlights how Chinese automakers are accelerating their international expansion despite facing significant barriers in the United States. By targeting Mexico and other neighboring markets, brands like Leapmotor are building a stronger regional presence while preparing for future opportunities across North America.
As competition in the electric vehicle sector continues to intensify, Mexico is becoming an increasingly important battleground for global automakers looking to grow beyond their domestic markets.
California’s new EV rebate program will provide up to $3,500 on qualifying electric vehicles, with 13 automakers joining the state-backed incentive.
California’s new EV rebate program will offer incentives on qualifying electric vehicles.
Which Automakers Qualify for the California EV Rebate Program?
The California EV rebate program includes 13 participating automakers:
- Ford
- General Motors
- Honda
- Hyundai
- Kia
- Lucid
- Mitsubishi
- Nissan
- Rivian
- Subaru
- Tesla
- Toyota
- Volvo
Eligible buyers can receive instant rebates at the dealership on new EVs priced below $50,000 and used EVs under $25,000. California-based manufacturers Lucid and Rivian are exempt from the new-vehicle price cap.
Thirteen automakers have joined California’s new electric vehicle incentive program.
Several EV Brands Will Not Participate
Not every automaker offering electric vehicles will be part of the program. Brands including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Jeep, Dodge, Maserati, Mini and Fiat are not participating in the new rebate initiative.
In many cases, the decision comes down to vehicle pricing, as several manufacturers do not currently sell EVs that qualify under California’s purchase limits.
Several luxury EV brands will not be eligible under California’s new rebate program
A New Incentive for California EV Buyers
The California EV rebate program is designed to encourage electric vehicle adoption by lowering purchase costs while supporting affordable EV options across multiple brands. As the program rolls out later this year, eligible buyers will have access to instant savings at the point of sale, making electric vehicles more accessible throughout the state.
Charles Leclerc says a yellow flag and Ferrari’s lack of straight-line speed prevented him from securing a stronger qualifying result at Spa.
Charles Leclerc and Ferrari narrowly missed out on a better qualifying result for the Belgian Grand Prix after a confusing yellow flag disrupted the Monegasque driver’s final flying lap. Although he qualified fifth (moving up to fourth after Lando Norris’ penalty) Leclerc believes the incident cost him at least one position on the grid.
Charles Leclerc believes a yellow flag compromised his final qualifying lap at Spa.
Leclerc Says Ferrari Lost Time at the Worst Moment
Leclerc explained that a yellow flag displayed near the pit entry was highly visible from the racing line, forcing him to hesitate during his final attempt. While he admitted Ferrari still lacked the pace to challenge for pole, he believes the interruption prevented him from overtaking George Russell in the final standings.
The Ferrari driver also pointed to Mercedes’ superior straight-line speed, describing power as the team’s biggest weakness at Spa-Francorchamps.
Ferrari continues to trail Mercedes in straight-line performance.
Ferrari Hopes Slipstream Can Make the Difference
Despite the qualifying setback, Charles Leclerc remains optimistic for Sunday’s race. He believes slipstreaming could help Ferrari compensate for its straight-line deficit and create opportunities to move forward during the Belgian Grand Prix.
Leclerc hopes Ferrari can recover positions during the Belgian Grand Prix.
George Russell revealed Mercedes is still battling a technical issue that is costing significant time on the straights ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.
George Russell and Mercedes continue to battle a frustrating technical issue that has compromised the team’s straight-line performance since the British Grand Prix. Despite qualifying fourth for the Belgian Grand Prix—promoted to third after Lando Norris’ grid penalty—Russell admitted the problem is costing him valuable lap time at Spa-Francorchamps.
The British driver believes the issue has prevented him from fighting for pole position, even though he was satisfied with his qualifying performance.
George Russell says Mercedes is losing valuable time on the straights because of an unresolved issue.
George Russell Says Mercedes Is Losing Speed on the Straights
Russell revealed that Mercedes has identified an ongoing problem that causes his car to lose speed at full throttle, costing anywhere between two and six tenths of a second per lap on the straights.
Initially, the team suspected the issue was related to the brakes or even Russell’s driving style, but after extensive analysis, Mercedes is now convinced the problem is mechanical rather than driver-related.
The issue has forced the team to focus on recovering top speed instead of improving car setup and tire performance throughout the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.
Mercedes has been investigating the straight-line performance issue since Silverstone.
Mercedes Still Searching for Answers
Although Mercedes has not identified the exact cause, Russell does not believe the power unit is responsible. Instead, he says something is preventing the car from reaching its full potential on the straights, leaving the team searching for answers before the next race.
Russell hopes Mercedes can solve the issue before the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Russell Remains Optimistic Despite the Setback
Despite the ongoing problem, George Russell remains encouraged by the pace shown in the corners and believes he had the speed to challenge for the front row under normal conditions. Mercedes will now continue working to resolve the issue before the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Russell hopes the team can finally unlock the car’s full performance.
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