The Leapmotor models sold in the Stellantis network in Europe are about to go on sale. At the beginning of the year, the car giant created a joint venture with this Chinese brand, which was already being sold in Europe, but with very limited volumes.
Imported models or assembled in Europe?
The joint venture, called “Leapmotor International”, is majority owned by Stellantis with 51% of the capital. This entité “to be shipped today are the first batch of Leapmotor vehicles from Shanghai, in China, to the European ports, from here”, please indicate Stellantis in a communiqué distributed on March 30 July, with a photo of the vehicles ready for use. the sea.
Stellantis said that the T03 passenger cars and C10 SUVs “set sail for Europe”, without specifying the number shipped to Europe. The figure of 800 units was mentioned during the presentation of the financial results on 25 July.
Stellantis also confirmed a planned commercial launch in Europe next September and its plan for the two models proposed for launch.
The T03 will be assembled in Europe at an existing Stellantis factory (presumably the Tychy factory in Poland, as Reuters reported last March). The C10 SUV will be imported from China and will therefore have to pay the temporary customs duties now imposed by Europe.
In the photo published on Tuesday, July 30, it would be only the Leapmotor C10s that we would find on board the freighter heading to Europe. We were waiting for confirmation from Stellantis on this point.
Providing affordable electric cars in Europe
This joint venture between Stellantis and Leapmotor aims to offer affordable electric cars in Europe, while integrating into its results the sales of one of the Chinese brands with great ambitions in this market.
“This delivery (of this first Leapmotor cargo ship to Europe – editor’s note) marks an important milestone in the partnership that unites the two brands and demonstrates their shared commitment to sustainable mobility and innovation in the European electric vehicle market,” Stellantis’ press release said, presenting its Chinese partner as “the fourth Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) startup in China in terms of sales in June 2024.”
Stellantis mentions 200 European sales points for Leapmotor by the end of 2024 and 500 by 2026.
Following these first two models, the joint venture plans to launch at least one new model per year for the next three years, in Europe but also in other geographical areas such as India, the Middle East, Africa and South America.
Source: BFM TV
