Leapmotor Gets Bigger Avenue Into Europe — And Beyond

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Leapmotor is significantly expanding its presence in Europe through an enhanced partnership with Dutch-Italian automotive giant Stellantis. The collaboration, which began with Stellantis acquiring a 21% stake in Leapmotor and establishing the Leapmotor International (LPMI) joint venture, aims to boost production and sales of Leapmotor’s EV models across Europe and beyond. This strategic alliance is set to leverage Stellantis’ established manufacturing facilities and market reach to accelerate Leapmotor’s international growth. Key developments include plans to increase production capacity at Stellantis’ Zaragoza plant in Spain, a historic site for Opel manufacturing. The facility will potentially add a new production line for Opel’s upcoming electric C-SUV, alongside Leapmotor’s B10 model, with production possibly starting as early as 2026 for the latter and 2028 for the former. Additionally, the Villaverde plant in Madrid is earmarked to manufacture future Leapmotor vehicles aligned with European “Made-in-Europe” standards, with discussions underway to transfer plant ownership to LPMI’s Spanish subsidiary. These moves are designed to enhance affordability and supply chain resilience by combining European manufacturing expertise with competitive Chinese EV components. The partnership also aims to optimise procurement strategies by leveraging the combined scale of Stellantis and Leapmotor, particularly through LPMI’s joint purchasing initiatives. This approach is expected to reduce costs and speed up the time-to-market for new battery electric vehicle models in Europe. Leapmotor International has already demonstrated strong international momentum, having launched models such as the T03 and C10 across five continents, including recent expansions into South America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and Mexico. Leapmotor’s founder and CEO, Zhu Jiangming, highlighted the synergy between Leapmotor’s advanced technology and Stellantis’ global footprint and regional expertise, describing the partnership as a powerful combination. The joint venture has rapidly expanded Leapmotor’s global reach and reputation in under three years, positioning the company as a growing contender in the competitive international EV market. This collaboration not only strengthens Stellantis’ electric vehicle portfolio but also provides Leapmotor with a robust platform to scale its operations and meet increasing demand outside China.