Leapmotor ute still on the table, but there’s one big problem

Summary: Leapmotor is open to launching a ute for Australia but has no ladder-frame platform to build one, a gap that puts any dual-cab ambition well beyond the near term. Francesco Giacalone, Leapmotor International’s global head of brand strategy, product, and marketing, told Australian media in China that “anything is on the table” for commercial vehicles, but confirmed that “in this moment, the platform does not exist”, CarExpert reports.

The brand’s partnership with Stellantis, which distributes Leapmotor vehicles outside China, has not delivered access to a ladder-frame architecture. Giacalone has previously said Australia alone could not justify the volume, and that combined demand from markets such as Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil would be needed to make a business case. That multi-market coalition does not yet exist either. Meanwhile, the Ranger and HiLux have topped Australia’s sales charts again in 2026, and Chinese ute competitors including BYD, GWM, LDV, and MG are already on local dealer floors.

Brands mentioned: Leapmotor, Ford, Toyota, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, BYD, GWM, LDV, Foton, MG, JAC, Chery, Jetour, GAC