LeDao Resumes Development of Two New Models Priced Around RMB 200,000, Including a Sedan and an SUV

According to LateAuto on March 27, Leapmotor—a sub-brand under NIO—is restarting development of two new models: a sedan targeting small families while also serving commercial needs, and an SUV, both positioned in the RMB 200,000 price segment. The projects were initially paused due to NIO’s CBU organizational restructuring in early 2024 but resumed development at the end of August last year. Sources indicated that strong post-launch sales of the Leapmotor L90—which delivered 40,000 units in four months, becoming China’s best-selling large all-electric SUV—and positive pre-order feedback for the all-new ES8 were key reasons for reviving the projects. Internally, NIO believes that relying on only a few models makes it difficult to sustainably grow sales in today’s highly competitive mainstream market, making it urgent to accelerate expansion of Leapmotor’s product lineup. Additionally, NIO reported its first quarterly profit in Q4 2025, with cash reserves reaching RMB 45.9 billion, providing strong financial support for advancing these new models.