Electric vehicle manufacturer Leapmotor affirms intention to establish production facilities in Spain for electric cars.
Leapmotor to Launch Production in Spain, Aiming for European Customer Preferences
Leapmotor, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, is set to expand its operations to Europe, with production set to begin in Spain in 2026. The move is aimed at avoiding tariffs of 20.7% on EV imports to the EU from China and catering to European customer preferences.
Stellantis, the parent company that owns a majority of the international rights for Leapmotor, has confirmed Spain as the European production site for Leapmotor. The most likely production site for Leapmotor in Spain is the Zaragoza plant, which currently builds the Peugeot 208, Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, and Lancia Ypsilon.
The initial model for Leapmotor to produce in Spain is expected to be the B10, a 4.5m-long crossover in the C-segment. The B05 hatchback could also follow production in Spain.
Leapmotor's CEO of Leapmotor International, Tianshu Xin, stated that the brand is working on understanding European customer behavior. The feedback collected from European customers will be used to improve the engineering of Leapmotor's vehicles.
The expansion includes the launch of two new, more Europe-friendly models. Future models, including the B10 and B05, will benefit from work at Stellantis's European R&D facilities to make them more Euro-friendly.
In addition, the Zaragoza plant is planning to include a new €4.1 billion gigafactory for LFP batteries as part of a joint venture with Chinese supplier CATL. However, the location of the factory producing the B10 and B05 is not specified.
Leapmotor's launch line-up in Europe includes the T03 city car and the C10 SUV. Both the T03 and C10 were designed and engineered before the Stellantis deal. Antonio Filosa, Stellantis CEO, confirmed that the company that will take over the management of the future Leapmotor manufacturing plant in Spain from 2026 is Stellantis.
In conclusion, Leapmotor's entry into the European market represents a significant step for the Chinese EV manufacturer. The move is expected to bring more competitive EV options to European consumers, while also creating jobs and boosting the local economy.
