Smart solution: Leapmotor C10 Apple and Android smartphone shortfall will be addressed in August
If you’ve been turned off the new Leapmotor C10 electric SUV because it lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring there is good news coming in August.
An over the air update being developed now by the Chinese brand will instal the feature most car buyers – outside Tesla owners – see as pretty much necessary.
And if you have bought a C10 without the feature, Apple and Android screen mirroring will be incorporated inti the car’s QDLink system via OTA at no cost.
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When the C10 launched in Australia the estimate was an update to include Apple and Android mirroring could take years to arrive.
While Leapmotor’s local management has been stoic in its defence of the C10’s infotainment capabilities without Apple and Android mirroring, confirmation of the change came from a higher power – Leapmotor International’s global CEO Xin Tianshu.
Tianshu revealed the update was close during a media roundtable prior to presiding over the unveil of the range extender version C10 REEV on Leapmotor’s Melbourne motor show stand last Friday (pictured top).
“For the C10, Leapmotor is working on a solution in the second half of the year which allow customer to enjoy this kind of functionality by pairing their phones with the car,” he revealed.
“So, there is a solution already, in addition to aftermarket solutions.
“So that customer need and feedback is already being taken under consideration and we will address that.”
Tianshu sad the C10 would offer both wired and wireless smartphone connection.
“That’s the beauty of the Leapmotor we can do the OTA and continue to improve the customer experience.
Tianshu explained the decision to omit Apple and Android mirroring from the C10 dated back to the establishment of Leapmotor by its founder Zhu Jianming in 2015.
“When the founder set up the company and the benchmark he has is Tesla,” he explained. “Tesla is very successful and so he benchmarked Tesla on this.
“Also, when they set up China was the main market at that time was for China. And China market frankly speaking … everybody is driving using the phone [using its loudspeaker or ear buds], so from a customer perspective in China it’s not a must.”
Tanshu’s admission came only moments after local boss Andy Hoang had ruled out the addition of Apple and Android capability any time soon for the C10 and defended QDLink.
“I think there are a large group of customers who recognise it [Apple/Android] isn’t the be-all and end-all,” he said.
“There are two things used most in your car are mapping and music. And most of the time you explain to a customer the car does have mapping, does have Spotify, does have YouTube, we found they go ‘oh in actual fact I have heard about CarPlay but I don’t really need it’. “
Despite appealing pricing, Leapmotor C10 sales have been slow since its launch in Australia under the Stellantis umbrella earlier this year. So far in 2025, 138 have left showrooms. Fellow Chinese brand BYD has sold 730 Sealion 7s, Geely 188 EX5s and Zeekr 179 X compact SUVs.
All future Leapmotor models starting with the B10 compact SUV have been confirmed as coming standard with Apple and Android mirroring.
The brand plans to have six BEV and range extender models on-sale in Australia within three years.
