3 Minutes
Spain, not Poland—that’s where Leapmotor is quietly resetting its European ambitions.
After a shaky attempt to build its compact T03 in Poland last year, the Chinese EV maker is changing course with something far more calculated. This time, it’s leaning on Stellantis—and aiming straight at Western Europe with sharper intent.
The plan is simple on paper, but loaded with meaning: start building electric vehicles at Stellantis’ Zaragoza plant. If all goes as expected, production of the all-electric B10 will kick off as early as October. Right now, that model reaches European buyers via imports from China. Local assembly changes the equation—costs, tariffs, and credibility all shift overnight.
And it doesn’t stop there. The smaller B05 hatchback is already being lined up for European production too, potentially arriving from Spanish lines by 2027. It’s a signal that Leapmotor isn’t testing the waters anymore—it’s wading in.
From Export Surge to European Footprint
The timing isn’t accidental. Leapmotor is riding a surge that’s hard to ignore. Global exports jumped nearly 400 percent in a single year, climbing to over 67,000 units. In Europe alone, revenue exploded by 479 percent, reaching 5.6 billion yuan (about $810 million).
Even more telling is what happened behind the balance sheet. Leapmotor turned a full-year profit—538 million yuan, to be precise—making it one of the very few Chinese EV startups to cross that line. That kind of financial footing changes how aggressively a company can expand.
Europe, with its strict emissions rules and growing EV appetite, is the obvious next battleground. But it’s also a complicated one, full of regulatory hurdles and tariff risks. That’s where Stellantis comes in.
A Partnership That Cuts Both Ways
What started as an investment is turning into something deeper. Leapmotor and Stellantis are now actively exploring joint development of vehicles and components, with ongoing talks covering multiple projects.
According to Leapmotor’s CFO Li Tengfei, closer cooperation could smooth out regulatory challenges and even help sidestep certain tariff pressures. Building cars inside Europe, rather than shipping them in, is more than a logistical decision—it’s a strategic shield.
For Stellantis, the upside is just as compelling. Tapping into Leapmotor’s EV architecture could shave development costs and accelerate time to market. It’s a familiar playbook: Volkswagen has already teamed up with Xpeng, while Audi is working alongside SAIC.
What’s different here is the speed. Leapmotor isn’t inching forward—it’s scaling fast, backed by real numbers and a partner that knows the terrain.
Spain might not have been the original plan. But it could end up being the move that makes Europe finally click.
Leave a Comment