Automotive News Europe — 2024-09-24
Automotive Industry
Stellantis has exclusive rights to build, export and sell Leapmotor products outside China.
China's Leapmotor and Stellantis are set to start taking orders in Europe for the T03 electric city car and C10 electric SUV as the partners expand their budget electric-vehicle offering in the region.
Stellantis holds a 51% stake in the Leapmotor International joint venture and has exclusive rights to build, export and sell Leapmotor products outside China in the first such arrangement for a legacy Western automaker.
The T03 will be available from the end of September 2024 with prices starting from €18,900 ($20,990) while the C10 will be in dealerships in October 2024 starting from €36,400, the JV said in a statement.
The two models were showcased for the first time in Europe near Milan on 24 September 2024.
Initially imported from China, the T03 will also be assembled in Europe, at Stellantis' Tychy plant in Poland, potentially helping the brand avoid European Union tariffs on imported Chinese EVs.
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has hinted the C10 model could be manufactured in Europe, but has not provided details.
Leapmotor's cars will be sold in Stellantis dealerships in Europe. About 350 sales points are expected by the end of the year, Leapmotor International said.
Leapmotor, which will serve as Stellantis' 15th brand, will help the automaker widen its range of affordable EVs, as it presses ahead with electrification and seeks to comply with EU emission rules at a time of soft global demand for EVs.
Tavares is opposed to a call by European auto lobby ACEA for relief from intermediate CO2 targets for cars and vans coming into effect in the EU in 2025. He said last week it was key for the industry to sell EVs at the same price as gasoline models.