Leapmotor to Produce Electric Vehicles at Stellantis Plant in Spain

Leapmotor has reached an agreement with its shareholder Stellantis to manufacture vehicles at a plant in Spain for the European market. The Hangzhou-based company and Stellantis, owner of Peugeot, Fiat and Jeep, will jointly build Opel’s new fully electric C-sport utility vehicles and B10 models at the Figueruelas plant in Zaragoza.

Production is expected to start as early as this year, according to a statement released by the Franco-Italian carmaker on Friday. The announcement comes less than two months after Leapmotor opened its first overseas research and development hub in Munich.

The center is aimed at tailoring models to international customers. Leapmotor is 21 per cent owned by Stellantis.

The EV maker set up a joint venture known as Leapmotor International with Stellantis in 2023. The venture is 49 per cent owned by Leapmotor and is intended to promote its Chinese-made cars worldwide while leveraging Stellantis’ global resources to bolster sales.

Stellantis said the new Opel-branded electric SUVs built at the plant would become more affordable through its partnership with Leapmotor. The two companies are joining efforts to improve supply chain efficiency. The arrangement highlights how some Chinese brands are using existing manufacturing capacity in Europe.

It may also help reduce exposure to trade barriers on vehicles imported from China.