LEPAS shipped the first batch of L8 PHEV SUVs bound for the Middle East and loaded nearly 1,500 more units for six European countries in back-to-back ceremonies this week, as Chery Group’s new-energy vehicle brand pushes into what it calls its “Year of Delivery.” The Middle East-bound vehicles departed Guangzhou Nansha Port for the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, while the European shipment left Wuhu Port for Italy, Spain, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, and Romania. Both shipments carry the LEPAS L8, a five-seat SUV built on the brand’s Intelligent LEX Platform. LEPAS said each shipment marks a milestone in its push to establish a presence in the respective region.
Highlights
- Two shipment ceremonies: L8 PHEV units departed Guangzhou Nansha Port for the UAE and Kuwait, and Wuhu Port for six European countries — Italy, Spain, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, and Romania.
- Nearly 1,500 units were loaded for the European shipment; the Middle East shipment is described as the first batch sent to the region.
- Company-reported performance: the L8 PHEV’s Super Hybrid system delivers a comprehensive range of more than 808 miles (1,300 km) and fuel economy of up to 98.8 mpg (2.38 L/100 km), per LEPAS.
- Broader Middle East rollout planned: LEPAS said the L6 EV, L4 EV, and L6 PHEV will follow the L8 into the region, alongside an upgraded intelligent valet parking system later this year.
Middle East Shipment Precedes Regional Brand Launch
LEPAS held a shipment ceremony at Guangzhou Nansha Port this week for the first batch of L8 PHEV vehicles bound for the UAE and Kuwait. The company said the shipment starts the countdown to a regional brand launch event, where it plans to introduce its Middle East brand strategy and product lineup.
LEPAS pointed to Gulf government incentives — including new-energy vehicle purchase tax reductions and expanding charging infrastructure in the UAE and Kuwait — as part of the market backdrop for its push into the region. The L8 PHEV is the first model LEPAS is shipping to the Middle East, with the L6 EV, L4 EV, and L6 PHEV to follow. LEPAS also said it plans to launch an upgraded Super Intelligent Valet Parking (SIVP) system in the region later this year, building on what it describes as an already-mature intelligent parking system.
European Shipment Marks Move From Debut to Scale
Separately, LEPAS loaded nearly 1,500 L8 PHEV units at Wuhu Port for shipment to Italy, Spain, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, and Romania. LEPAS called it a large-scale shipment and tied it to growth in the European new-energy vehicle market as EU nations pursue emissions-reduction targets.
The shipment follows LEPAS’s debut at Milan Design Week in April, where the brand introduced its LEX platform alongside the L8 and L6 models. LEPAS said it has drawn positive feedback from European media and early customers since that debut, and it described the bulk shipment as the brand’s move from market introduction to at-scale deliveries in the region.
L8 PHEV Specifications
Both shipments carry the same L8 PHEV configuration: a five-seat SUV built on the Intelligent LEX Platform with LEPAS’s Leopard Aesthetics design language. The Middle East release detailed additional specifications aimed at the region’s climate: a 110.2-inch (2,800 mm) wheelbase, UV-insulated heat-reducing glass, and a climate control system LEPAS said can lower cabin temperature by 57.6°F (32°C) within five minutes.
LEPAS reports the Super Hybrid powertrain delivers a comprehensive range of more than 808 miles (1,300 km) and fuel economy of up to 98.8 mpg (2.38 L/100 km). Neither release specifies the test cycle behind these figures.
Global Rollout
LEPAS said both shipments support its “Year of Delivery” push to build a global network spanning Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. The brand organizes its strategy under the tagline “Drive Your Elegance,” built on three pillars it calls Leopard Aesthetics, Elegant Technology, and Exquisite Space. LEPAS tied the expansion to Chery Group’s broader “In somewhere, For somewhere, Be somewhere” localization approach.
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