Gowan Auto has been appointed National Importer for Leapmotor, marking the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer's official entry into the Irish market this September.

Leapmotor, established in 2015, is a joint venture partnership between the global giant Stellantis and Leapmotor China, and today is one of the fastest growing electric vehicle brands in China. Gowan Auto, a member of the Gowan Group of companies, is the exclusive importer and distributor in Ireland of Stellantis brands including Alfa Romeo, Citroën, DS, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep, Opel, and Peugeot, and Honda. The addition of Leapmotor to the Gowan Auto portfolio will offer electric vehicle customers in Ireland an even wider choice in terms of value and technology.

Michael Dwan, Managing Director at Gowan Group said: “Gowan Group is very pleased to announce the imminent arrival of Leapmotor in Ireland. Leapmotor aims to become Ireland’s best value electric vehicle brand by offering high levels of specification and advanced technology as standard. Leapmotor’s core philosophy is that customers should not have to compromise on quality or features for affordability, delivering a true value without compromise proposition for Irish car buyers.”

The new addition to the stable will headquarter at Gowan Auto’s Distribution Centre in Citywest, Dublin. Gowan Auto united its suite of 9 car brands and staff under one roof, presenting a new state-of-the-art premises in the Spring of 2023 in Citywest, to include expansive office space, a 80,000sq ft parts warehouse, a contemporary training academy, and an extensive marketing showroom.

The Leapmotor Ireland team at Gowan Auto will be spearheaded by Managing Director, James Brooks, who brings extensive leadership experience and valuable expertise to the role. James will retain responsibility for the Opel brand at Gowan Auto. He will be joined by Stephen McGrath, formerly Head of Product and Pricing at Peugeot and DS Ireland, who has been appointed Brand Manager. Mark Brennan, formerly Marketing Executive at DS Ireland, has been appointed Marketing Manager at Leapmotor Ireland. Both Stephen and Mark will play key roles in establishing Leapmotor’s presence and driving brand growth in Ireland. Emma Toner is Marketing Director for Leapmotor, in addition to her current brand, Opel. Recruitment for a Business Development Manager will commence soon.

Leapmotor will be marketed through the existing network of Gowan Auto Retail Partners, to ensure continuity of sales and aftersales excellence, and guaranteeing peace of mind for prospective Leapmotor customers, as they begin their journey with a new brand entering the market.

Leapmotor will launch in Ireland in September with two models.

The T03 is a compact B-segment hatchback offered at an A-segment price, providing exceptional value. It features a 37.3 kWh battery with a WLTP range of up to 265 km and comes equipped with a high level of standard technology and equipment, including a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, and a modern 10.1-inch infotainment system.

The C10 is a spacious D-segment SUV powered by a 69.9 kWh battery, delivering a WLTP range of up to 500 km. A plug-in hybrid range extender version (REEV) will also be available, delivering a WLTP range of over 900KM combined, including a 150km WLTP range of pure electric plug-in driving. The C10 stands out for its extensive premium features as standard, such as electrically adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, a 360-degree surround view camera, heated steering wheel, a 12-speaker premium Hi-Fi system, a 14.6-inch central touchscreen, and a 10-inch digital instrument cluster.

Leapmotor will expand its Irish line-up by a further 6 models by 2028. The Leapmotor B10, a C-SUV size vehicle, will be added to the model range in the autumn.

Full pricing and specifications details for the new T03, B10 and C10, together with the locations of the dealerships that will represent the Leapmotor brand in Ireland, will be announced imminently.