Lecar appears to be preparing the MEV01 for Brazil using a vehicle developed by China’s Launch Auto Design and sold under a different badge. The car surfaced in an image on Lecar’s Instagram, and Launch’s website features a related model called the Minicar MEV01. Lecar has not confirmed its plans or answered questions about the vehicle, so its arrival remains uncertain.
The MEV01 is a compact hatchback with SUV-like styling. Launch lists it at 4.1 metres long, 1.85 metres wide and 1.70 metres tall, with a wheelbase that can be either 2.5 or 2.7 metres depending on the version. Its cabin has a minimalist layout, with vehicle information shown on the central multimedia display rather than a conventional instrument cluster. The platform can accommodate combustion, battery-electric or range-extended electric powertrains. Launch gives a maximum output of 75 kW, or about 101 hp, and electric versions can be specified with claimed NEDC ranges of 300, 400 or 600 km.
Launch, officially Hunan Launch Automotive Technology, was registered in Zhuzhou in 2016. The company says it provides services ranging from design and engineering to supplier sourcing, prototype testing and local assembly support. It names BYD, Geely, GWM, Xiaomi, Renault, Toyota and Tesla among its clients; its Chinese-language site also credits it with work on early Haval H6 and H9 generations, the BYD F3 and other models.
Lecar previously proposed a locally developed EV, then a range-extended model, but neither plan came to fruition and customers were refunded. After being removed from Brazil’s Mover program in June for failing to prove investments, the company has reportedly considered turning a planned Espírito Santo factory into a multi-brand SKD assembly operation. The MEV01 may fit that approach, but Lecar has not confirmed a deal.