Leapmotor Unveils Self-Developed World Model for Intelligent Driving Assistance, Plans LiDAR Model Upgrades Starting Q1 2027

On the evening of September 16, Leapmotor unveiled its self-developed World Model-based intelligent driving assistance system at its 2026 Annual Technology Launch Event. The system can operate with as little as 200 TOPS of computing power and will also be available in a high-end version offering up to 1,280 TOPS—existing vehicle owners will be eligible for upgrades. According to information released at the event, starting from Q1 2027, Leapmotor will progressively roll out upgrades to LiDAR-equipped models, enabling them with advanced World Model-based driver assistance features. Vehicles priced under RMB 100,000 will also receive support. This intelligent driving system will eventually cover all model series—A, B, C, and D. Leapmotor’s World Model intelligent driving system leverages cloud-based learning simulation and on-vehicle closed-loop training. Currently, Leapmotor’s intelligent driving team comprises over 800 engineers and possesses 100% full-stack in-house R&D capabilities, supporting algorithm iterations at a pace of eight versions per day. Zhou Hongtao, Head of Leapmotor’s Electronics Product Line, stated that the World Model can understand the surrounding environment and anticipate what will happen next, thereby determining how the vehicle should drive. During the launch event, Leapmotor played a single-take, real-world test video demonstrating the World Model-assisted driving system.