Native name | 领志 |
|---|---|
| Company type | Automotivemarque |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 2014; 11 years ago (2014) |
| Defunct | 2018 (2018) |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | China |
| Products | Electricautomobiles |
| Parent | GAC Toyota |
| Website | http://www.leahead.com |
Leahead (LEE-ə-HED) was anelectric car sub brand byGAC Toyota, ajoint venture betweenGAC Group andToyota Motor Corporation, founded in 2014.
In 2013, the Sino-Japanesejoint venture GAC Toyota announced a plan to introduce a new brandelectric cars Leahead to the domesticChinese market. Its announcement was the Ranz Concept crossover prototype presented at the Shanghai Auto Show.[1][2] Leahead's next study was the urbanhatchback i1 EV Concept presented in April 2015 at the Beijing Auto Show, closer in form to the future first production model.[3]
The series variantLeahead i1 was presented in November 2015, being a twin design to the second generationToyota Yaris produced by GAC Toyota on the localChinese market in 2008 –2013.[4] The car remained the only design offered under the Leahead brand and did not go into mass production except for a trial copy. The company retained a marginal position in the alliance in favor of GAC Toyota focusing on offering co-builtElectric Cars as part of the Japanese company's local portfolio from 2018.
The i1 was an electricsuperminihatchback based on the 5-doorsecond generation Toyota Vitz and had a range of about 128 kilometres (80 mi).[5] It has a 22 kWh battery and the motor delivers up to 70kilowatts (95 hp).[6]
The i1 was sold for the 2015-2016 model years.[7]
In 2018, Leahead i1s were recalled for replacing their defectiveTakata airbags.[8]
The iA5 was an electriccompactsedan based onGAC New Energy'sAion S, with a redesigned front and rear different from the Aion S.[9][10]
The iX4 was an electriccompactcrossover SUV based on thefacelifted electricTrumpchi GS4 and was revealed at the 2018Chengdu Motor Show.[11] It was also sold as the Mitsubishi Eupheme Qizhi, Honda Everus Shirui, and Fiat Yuejie, though the iX4 was a pure EV while the others wereplug-in hybrid electric vehicles.