LEVC L380 EV MPV production starts in China

LEVC, which has roots going back to the first black cab of London, has marked another major milestone in its 116-year history with the start of production of its L380 Multi-Purpose Vehicle.

The huge MPV, previewed in China in early December, is a fully electric vehicle which will transform the company from a high-end taxi manufacturer to a leading provider of e-mobility solutions.

Space Oriented Architecture
The L380 (earlier known as Xspace) is the first model that will use the recent launch of the Space Oriented Architecture (SOA), a new EV platform co-developed with the Geely Holding Group which LEVC is part of.

The platform will also be used in future LEVC models which will offer advances in range, efficiency, safety, charging time, durability, and connectivity.

The first L380 prototype rolled off the assembly line this week in Yiwu, China, where the company’s China manufacturing operations will be based. With significant investment, the plant has been repurposed to meet the requirements of the industrial future.

This facility, which will have an agile and intelligent approach to overall production, will complement LEVC’s other factory in Coventry, England. Following start of production, the L380 will initially launch in China, with the MPV set to arrive in the UK within the next 2 years.

Purpose-built design
Just as its taxis have been purpose-built to offer mobility to people, the L380 is also a purpose-built solution to meet the needs of society. It takes the company into an entirely new market with smart, green, safe, and accessible mobility. It raises the bar for interior flexibility, with multiple configurations, available in a 3. 6 or 8-seat layout.

Taking LEVC global
Alex Nan, CEO of LEVC, said the company aims to have a presence in over 40 countries in the coming years. “The innovative SOA technology – developed alongside Geely – is spearheading our exciting new strategy that will see the business take a global approach, growing our footprint across the world.”

“The L380 is the first demonstration of the future vision for LEVC, launching the business into an entirely new sector. As with all our products, L380 takes inspiration from the company’s rich history, combined with the vast resources and technical innovation of the Geely Holding Group. The start of production for this new model sets us on an exciting new path, bringing advanced zero-emission transportation to more customers than ever before and we look forward to taking customers on this journey,” he said.