China’s Leapmotor has only recently launched in Australia, but it’s already looking at ways to improve its vehicles.
Like many new models that have a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on the latest scoring protocol, the Leapmotor C10 mid-sized electric SUV has a driver attention monitor that alerts the driver when the car thinks you’re distracted or not looking at the road ahead.
As we found during the Australian media launch drive of the Leapmotor C10, however, the driver attention monitor chimes a lot, and struggles to detect your eyes if you’re wearing sunglasses. The system also defaults to on every time you drive the car.
The shrill driver attention monitoring sounds are also mixed with different chimes for the intelligent speed limit assist and lane-keep assist functions.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
Speaking with CarExpert, the head of Leapmotor Australia, Andy Hoang, said the company is exploring changes to the car’s alert sounds in an attempt to improve the customer experience.
“Leapmotor at its core is a software company, so everything’s on the table for how do we improve the experience,” said Mr Hoang.
“And there’s been quite a few things we’re working through at the moment just to continually provide that better experience.
“Sound is one of the things that… we’re investigating.”
Leapmotor has already confirmed there’s an over-the-air software update coming for the C10 that will bring apps like TikTok to its infotainment system. It’ll only be available to use when stationary.
A number of other apps and other software tweaks are expected to come with future software updates.
However, one feature that won’t come to the C10 with a software update is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as the car’s LEAP 3.0 architecture can’t support it.
Leapmotor has said the C10 won’t get smartphone mirroring functionality until a mid-life update or a new-generation model, when the car’s architecture is changed to the LEAP 3.5 platform. A timeframe for this hasn’t been provided yet.
Existing C10s won’t be able to be retrofitted with the updated software tech either.
Leapmotor is a young company, founded in China in 2015. It exclusively offers EVs and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), the latter of which also incorporate a combustion engine to charge their high-voltage battery.
In October 2023, automotive conglomerate Stellantis – which owns Jeep, Ram, Peugeot, Maserati and Fiat, among others – announced it would invest €1.5 billion (A$2.5 billion) in Leapmotor, purchasing about 21 per cent of the Chinese carmaker.
It obtained a controlling 51 per cent stake in Leapmotor International, a joint venture between the two carmakers that is now exporting vehicles to markets including Europe and Australia, where they are sold alongside brands including Jeep.
Although the C10 EV is the only model Leapmotor currently offers in Australia, the C10 REEV (Range Extender Electric Vehicle) is due in the first half of 2025, and the B10 small electric SUV is due on sale here later this year.
MORE: Everything Leapmotor C10
