- Zhu Jiangming and Fu Liquan bought HK$490 million of Leapmotor shares, lifting insider stakes to 24.71%.
- Leapmotor set a May delivery record with 81,569 vehicles, led by fast-growing overseas and European sales.
- Profitability lags as Q1 net loss widened to RMB390 million and gross margin fell to 9.4%, despite plans for an upmarket second brand.
Leapmotor announced in a filing to the HKEX that founder and CEO Zhu Jiangming, together with shareholder Fu Liquan, has once again increased their holdings in the company.
According to the filing, the two investors recently purchased a combined 11.6219 million Leapmotor H shares at an average price of about HK$41.99 per share, for a total investment of approximately HK$490 million ($62.5 million).
This marks the second major share purchase by the pair this year. On April 1, Zhu and Fu completed another stake increase worth approximately HK$230 million ($29.4 million).
Including purchases previously made through the company’s largest shareholder group, cumulative share purchases by related shareholders have now approached HK$1.7 billion ($217.6 million).
Following the latest transaction, Zhu Jiangming, Fu Liquan and the largest shareholder group collectively hold a 24.71% stake in Leapmotor.
The continued buying reflects the company’s rapidly expanding market presence over the past year.
Latest figures show Leapmotor delivered 81,569 vehicles globally in May, up 81% year-on-year and setting a new monthly delivery record for the brand.
Overseas sales reached 20,168 units, accounting for nearly one-quarter of total deliveries.
Europe has become a key growth market, particularly in countries such as Italy, where Leapmotor has repeatedly set local sales records in recent months.
According to company plans, refreshed versions of the C-series lineup will begin launching in June.
Meanwhile, the right-hand-drive Lafa 5 for overseas markets will debut at the Hong Kong Auto Show before gradually entering 28 countries and regions worldwide.
However, rising sales have not yet translated into stronger profitability.
According to Leapmotor’s first-quarter earnings report, net loss widened to RMB 390 million ($57.5 million) from RMB 130 million ($19.2 million) a year earlier.
Gross margin declined to 9.4%, down from 14.9% in the same period last year and 15.0% in the previous quarter.
Management attributed the margin pressure primarily to changes in product mix and a decline in higher-margin partnership-related business.
At the same time, Leapmotor is seeking new growth opportunities for its next phase of development.
Market reports previously suggested the company plans to launch a second brand positioned above its current product lineup, with pricing expected to exceed RMB 300,000 ($44,250).
During the earnings call, Leapmotor CFO Li Tengfei confirmed that development of the second brand is underway.
More details could be disclosed as early as the end of this year, with a market launch expected in the second half of 2027.
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