First electric SUV with oxygen generator and Snapdragon 8797 chip tandem to undercut Model Y L pricing

Leapmotor, an automaker that topped the sales charts among all "new energy" vehicle startups in China for the first half of the year, has announced its first premium model, the D19 SUV, which will compete with the likes of the Tesla Model Y L there.

The automaker is co-owned by Stellantis with 20% stake and nearly doubled its year-on-year sales in H1 2025, with the new D19 being a prime example why. The SUV comes in both a pure electric version with a 115 kWh hybrid LFP/nickel battery pack, and an extended range vehicle with an 80 kWh battery and ICE generator.

The Leapmotor D19 price is expected to undercut the Tesla Model Y L by about 10%, all the while it offers much faster charging, bolder spacious design, and more premium features. It is, for instance, the first SUV, electric or not, that comes with a built-in oxygen generator.

While not an advanced technology like the two Qualcomm Snapdragon 8797 chips that boast 1,280 TOPS AI computing power for cabin interface and autonomous driving, or the 60-inch AR HUD, the oxygen generator on the D19 is still a unique option. It is designed to produce up to 8 liters of oxygen per hour, just like the P8 portable generator available on Amazon, and would come in handy during winding family trips high in the mountains, or climbing up to the Tibetan Plateau that is becoming a favorite vacation pastime.

The average altitude on the Tibetan Plateau is 4,500 meters (2.8 miles) so altitude sickness is common for unacclimatized people that are visiting it. The Tibetan railways, for instance, turn on diffused oxygen supply via a generator when their trains reach a certain altitude, which enriches the cabin air with up to 23% oxygen content. Those traveling in a Leapmotor D19 there will be able to do the same from the comfort of their own SUV.

It is just one more example of the cutthroat automotive industry competition in China, which boasts numerous EV startups that produce hundreds of models. They not only have to be an enticing value for their price, but increasingly need to stand out with cutting edge technology and quirky or niche extras like the D19's oxygen generator.