They used to roll out high-end taxis. Now, they have just started building a luxury MPV, the first of the many models to come. LEVC has just completed the first L380 Multi-Purpose Vehicle with luxury credentials, zero emissions, and two battery options.
LEVC has just commenced the manufacturing of its first MPV, the L380, which they unveiled back in December as a minivan inspired by the Airbus A380 Airliner, the world’s largest passenger airplane.
It is a luxury and spacious model, with no rival to match the onboard space in the segment, the brand claims. The vehicle will first be marketed in China starting in the second quarter of 2024 before arriving in various other global markets.
The MPV, with a logo that can easily be confused with that of the Bentley models, is labeled as being smart, green, safe, and accessible, but there is no word on pricing just yet. We will most likely find out more closer to the launch date. The flexible multi-purpose vehicle will be available with various configurations of three, six, or eight seats. The eight-seat configuration will feature a 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 layout, which is not exactly the norm in the MPV segment.
The L380 will be powered by a single electric motor, which should generate 268 horsepower (272 metric horsepower). Customers will be able to choose either the entry-level ternary NMC battery with a capacity of 100 kWh for a range of 354 miles (570 kilometers) or the larger unit, of 116 kWh, which allows the vehicle to drive as far as 419 miles (675 kilometers) on a single charge.
Photo: LEVC
Regardless of the battery selected by the future owner, the top speed for both variants will be 106 mph (170 kph). That motor will pull a vehicle that is 209.4 inches long, 78.7 inches wide, and 76.4 inches tall, sporting a wheelbase of 125.4 inches.
The vehicle, the first to be based on the innovative Space Oriented Architecture (SOA), co-developed with Geely, will see the light of day in Yiwu, China, in a recently retooled plant, following a major investment.
The model will be exclusively made for the local market at first and, later on, for export. The company has also confirmed that a version for the United Kingdom will arrive within the next two years and aims to have a presence in over 40 countries in the coming years. There is a big chance the L380 will make it to the United States as well.
LEVC will launch more SOA-based models that will slot in various segments to accelerate its transition from a taxi manufacturer to what they call a “leading provider of e-mobility solutions,” which would simply translate to “an EV maker.”
The company will manufacture its models both in Yiwu, China, and Ansty, Coventry, United Kingdom.
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