The term ‘China speed’ is often used to describe the short model lifecycles of Chinese automakers, with updates arriving rapidly – so rapidly, in fact, that these brands are often launching models in Australia that are almost immediately superseded.
The Leapmotor B05 electric hatchback is reportedly one of these, as despite only just being launched in Australia in October, Chinese outlet Autohome reports an updated version will debut at this month’s Guangzhou motor show.
While it’s externally unchanged, the 2027 Lafa 5 – as the B05 is known in its home market – will gain an augmented reality head-up display, plus a larger 17.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, up from 14.6 inches.
Autohome also notes the availability of zero-gravity seats, a 14-speaker sound system and, in the flagship Ultra, front seats with heating, ventilation and massage.
It will also reportedly follow the recently updated Chinese-market B10 in moving to an 800V electrical architecture, likely enabling quicker charging.
Autohome also specifies CLTC range figures of between 630km and 660km depending on the variant; the current Lafa 5 range offers between 500km and 605km of range (the B05 is quoted at 401km-482km on the WLTP cycle).
There’s no guarantee the updated B05 will be offered in Australia, however.
Leapmotor International’s global head of brand strategy, product and marketing, Francesco Giacalone, told media including CarExpert in September that the average Chinese model cycle had fallen to around 3.5 years.
With updates for export markets, including local certification and establishment of parts and servicing support, taking another eight to 12 months, that could mean a manufacturer may already be preparing or announcing a replacement vehicle just as an export version of the outgoing model is being launched.
Mr Giacalone raised several ways Chinese automakers could deal with the problem.
One would be to introduce one global generation for every two generations sold in China, selecting the most relevant technology for international customers.
Another would be to keep an export vehicle on sale for longer, while incorporating technology from a newer Chinese model into a substantial mid-life update or even through software updates.
As an example, the B10 received over-the-air software updates in Australia earlier this year, but a significant hardware update detailed for China in July – with an 800V electrical architecture on higher grades, larger batteries for more range, new electric motors for more power, and upgraded cabin displays – won’t come to Australia.
Leapmotor International commercial head for Enlarged Europe Danilo Annese told CarExpert that while Chinese customers respond quickly to new products and frequent updates, in other markets introducing a materially better version frequently can confuse customers and depress resale value.
The Chinese brand isn’t alone in launching a model in Australia that shortly thereafter was updated in the Chinese market.
The Zeekr 7X was effectively launched simultaneously in Australia in pre-update guise and in China in updated guise, with the latter featuring a 900V-rated 103kWh battery instead of an 800V 100kWh pack, plus more powerful electric motors.
The GWM Tank 500 is now two model-year updates behind its Chinese counterpart, though it has received a new engine in the meantime.
And BYD commenced Australian deliveries of the Sealion 5 in January 2026, only for an entirely new generation to be launched in China in April 2026.
MORE:Why Australia may miss entire generations of Chinese cars
MORE:Explore the Leapmotor B05 showroom
