Leapmotor is weighing up a hybrid version of the B03X small SUV for markets including Australia, even as the battery-electric version prepares for a local launch in late 2026.

Danilo Annese, Vice President of Commercial Operations Europe at Leapmotor International, said the company was not ruling out alternative powertrains for the new front-wheel-drive platform.

"China teaches us that there are no limits in technical developments, so I do not exclude anything," Annese said when asked whether the platform could support a range-extender or hybrid powertrain.

Annese said market demand would determine whether Leapmotor invests in a hybrid B03X, with Europe split between countries still asking for hybrid options and others focused almost entirely on battery-electric vehicles.

"We need to see whether these two pieces of the European puzzle will justify an investment on a hybrid version of this car," he said.

When asked whether demand from outside Europe could help justify that investment, Annese pointed to markets such as Brazil, Australia and Mexico.

"We hope that the countries outside Europe will be in the position to justify investment," he said.

"If Brazil, if Australia, if Mexico, will be on the projected side, to justify an investment, why not?"

Asked directly whether the B03X had a case as a hybrid in Australia, Annese said local buyer preferences could support further study.

"It does not exclude that we will look into that and try to bring something, you know, on a decent time scale," he said.

Leapmotor has not confirmed whether a potential B03X hybrid would be a conventional hybrid, plug-in hybrid or range-extender.

The brand already offers a range-extender option locally through the Leapmotor B10 REEV, which gives it a reference point in a market where hybrids and plug-in hybrids continue to attract buyers who are not ready to move fully electric.

Electric B03X locked in first

The battery-electric 2026 Leapmotor B03X remains the only version confirmed for Australia at this stage.

It is expected to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2026, sitting below the B10 SUV and alongside the Leapmotor B05 electric hatch in the brand's expanding Australian line-up.

European specifications list two lithium iron phosphate battery packs: a 39.8kWh unit with up to 292km WLTP range and a 53.0kWh unit with up to 382km WLTP range.

The smaller battery is paired with a 130kW front motor, while the larger pack gets a 145kW front motor.

Both versions produce 200Nm and claim an 8.6-second 0 to 100km/h time.

The B03X measures 4270mm long, 1810mm wide and 1635mm tall, with a 2605mm wheelbase and 175mm of ground clearance.

Boot capacity is listed at 510 litres in total, including a 105-litre waterproof underfloor compartment, with 1605 litres available when the rear seats are folded.

Standard equipment in European-market cars includes a 14.6-inch central touchscreen, an 8.8-inch driver display, Leap OS 4.0 Plus, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, seven airbags and 21 driver assistance systems.

Australian pricing remains indicative, with figures under $30,000 drive-away for the entry grade and $33,000 for the top specification.

If the hybrid version progresses, it would give Leapmotor a second powertrain strategy for the model in Australia, where EV demand has improved but hybrid and plug-in hybrid sales remain a major part of the market.