Leapmotor T03 Electric Hatchback – The affordable electric vehicle segment in India is about to engage in a very intense new battle. Up to this point, the Tata Tiago EV has led the pack of entry-level EVs markets with virtually no direct competitors. However, the situation is changing with the debut of the Leapmotor T03, which is supported by the global powerhouse Stellantis, the parent company of Citroën and Jeep. The T03, which is expected to enter the market in early 2026 with a price tag of around ₹8 lakh (ex-showroom), is preparing for a struggle with the Tiago EV, and the fight is going to be very even.
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EV Power & Range
The most important advantage of the Leapmotor T03 is the exceptional battery and range combination. It is likely that the T03 will be equipped with a 37.3 kWh battery pack, which is almost 47% larger than the 24 kWh unit of the Tiago EV. The T03 globally offers a WLTP range of up to 265 km, which comes closer to real-world driving numbers. This gives the T03 a major advantage over the Tiago EV, whose 315 km ARAI-certified range usually falls significantly below that number during everyday use.
The T03 is also equipped with a 94 PS electric motor, which is more powerful than the Tiago EV’s 74 PS and should thus provide faster acceleration and even better highway confidence. Fast charging is another feature that stands out the most the T03 can go from 30% to 80% in just 36 minutes, while the Tiago EV takes about 58 minutes to go from 10% to 80%.
Cabin & Features
The Leapmotor T03 has a lavish-looking interior that comes along with modern design pride and a copious features list to make it able to justify its daring price tag.
It comprises of 10.1-inch touchscreen, 8-inch digital instrument cluster and an interior style that is bizarrely European, plus a panoramic glass roof which is a global variant’s is a feature unheard of in this price category. The most talked-about aspect, however, are the ADAS safety features such as Lane Keep Assist and Autonomous Emergency Braking. If launched in India, the T03 will be the first EV below ₹10 lakh to have these features.
The Tata Advantage
The Tata Tiago EV still has a stronghold with:
A lower starting price (≈ ₹7.99 lakh)
Established safety and reliability
The broad and reliable Tata EV charging and service network
Tata also has first-mover advantage and customer trust, which make it a tough rival even if its specs are lower on paper.
Leapmotor’s market entry becomes more important due to Stellantis. Its sales, production, and servicing will be under the same ecosystem which is currently catering to Citroën and Jeep in India for support. Unlike previous foreign EV startups, Leapmotor will not experience the drawback of an underdeveloped service network as a major advantage during market entry; thus, it will be able to easily win consumers over.
