Stellantis has forged a strategic partnership with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) startup Leapmotor to launch Leapmotor’s T03 and C10 models into the European EV market by the fourth quarter of 2024. This collaboration signifies a major step toward enhancing the EV infrastructure within Europe.
Production of the T03 model will commence locally within Europe at an undisclosed venue, rumored by Reuters in March to be at the Fiat facility in Tychy, Poland. This has yet to receive official confirmation from Stellantis. Meanwhile, the C10 model will be imported from China initially. A spokesperson for Stellantis explained to Automotive Logistics that situating T03 production locally aims to optimize customer service, decrease transportation costs, and lessen environmental impacts.
With its headquarters in Amsterdam and leadership under CEO Tianshu Xin, a former executive at Stellantis China, Leapmotor International will tap into Stellantis’s distribution channels. Initial sales are set to launch in nine European nations, including prominent markets like Belgium, France, Germany, and Italy, with expansion plans aiming for 500 sales points by 2026. This initiative is expected to bolster customer service through Stellantis’s extensive network and service expertise.
This initiative follows Stellantis’s acquisition of approximately 21% equity in Leapmotor for €1.5 billion in the previous year, reflecting a strategic push to expand Leapmotor’s market presence in China while leveraging Stellantis’s global network to scale operations worldwide.
Recent statistics from the Association of European Vehicle Logistics (ECG) reveal a robust influx of Chinese vehicle exports to Europe, with 502,000 units shipped in March and a total of 1.3 million in the first quarter. The EU remains a dominant market for these exports, absorbing 47% of the value last year despite a 10% import duty.
The European BEV landscape shows mixed signals. Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (Acea) indicate an 11.3% decrease in BEV sales in March, though markets in Belgium and France have seen substantial growth, unlike Germany’s 28.9% decline.
Stellantis’s spokesperson has voiced strong confidence in Leapmotor’s market potential, citing its competitive pricing and advanced technological features poised to attract customers in a market increasingly crowded with Chinese EV brands.
Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, stressed the strategic relevance of establishing Leapmotor International: “The creation of Leapmotor International is a great step forward in helping address the urgent global warming issue with state-of-the-art BEV models that will compete with existing Chinese brands in key markets around the world.” This vision articulates a commitment to a sustainable future through innovative mobility solutions.
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