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Editorial
Paris Motor Show opens tomorrow: the electric debuts to watch, October 12–18
Leapmotor’s B03 and D19 make their first appearance outside China, and smart’s all-electric #2 two-seater gets its world premiere — what’s confirmed for the 2026 Mondial de l’Auto.
The 2026 Paris Motor Show (Mondial de l’Auto) opens its doors October 12 and runs through October 18. For the electric side of the industry, two debuts are confirmed enough to plan around — one from a Chinese brand pressing its European attack, one from the company reinventing the city car.
Leapmotor’s European coming-out party
Leapmotor will present the B03 intelligent compact hatchback and the D19 flagship large SUV — the first appearance of both models outside China, per the company’s press release. The full European line-up on display spans the B03, B03X, B05, B10, C10 and T03. Leapmotor holds its press conference at 10:40 CEST in Hall 4, on its largest show stand ever — two levels, set alongside Stellantis brands.
The number to watch: the B03’s ProMax battery version delivers up to 392 km of WLTC combined range — subject to final homologation. The WLTC figure is a lab cycle, not a road result, but for a compact hatch pitched at young urban buyers it frames the car’s intent. Leapmotor says Europe already represents 13% of its global sales in 2026 — the expansion this show is built to accelerate.
smart #2: the two-seater gets its world premiere
The all-electric smart #2 — the reinvention of the iconic two-seat city car — makes its world premiere in Paris. Pre-production prototypes have been running global validation on public roads and proving grounds in black-and-white camouflage styled by the Mercedes-Benz Global Design Team, covering chassis dynamics, NVH refinement and structural durability.
Caveat: full production specifications have not been released. Earlier concept presentations referenced a 35.7 kWh battery, a WLTP range target around 300 km, a 10–80% DC fast-charging time near 20 minutes and a 6.95-metre turning circle — figures smart has not confirmed for the production car. Expect the Paris reveal to answer exactly those questions: battery, range, price and availability.
What Paris won’t tell us matters too. Pricing, trim strategy and delivery timelines for both debutants remain undisclosed — the details that decide whether a motor show star becomes a car people actually buy.
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How this story was filed
Two-source rule: every news claim above was verified against documented sources before publication. Specifications carry their test standard (WLTP, EPA, or manufacturer figure) — never blended. Source manifests are kept on file for verification and chain of custody. Spotted an error? See our Corrections page — corrections publish fast and in the open.