• Stellantis will let Leapmotor build vehicles in one of its Spanish factories.
  • Local production helps Leapmotor avoid up to 30.7 percent EU import tariffs.
  • The B10 electric SUV is the most likely model to enter production first.

A year after making a major investment in Leapmotor, Stellantis is moving from shareholder to industrial partner. In 2023, the group spent €1.5 billion ($1.77 billion) for a 20 percent stake in the Chinese brand and took a 51 percent share in its international division, gaining the rights to sell and distribute its vehicles outside China. That relationship is now stepping up a gear, with Leapmotor set to build cars at one of Stellantis’s factories in Spain.

Read: New Leapmotor B10 Goes After Europe’s EV Market With Stellantis In Its Corner

Stellantis chief executive Antonio Filosa confirmed the development during a recent financial event. While he stopped short of naming the Spanish facility involved, the agreement will allow Leapmotor to sidestep the steep European Union tariffs placed on Chinese-built EVs, which can reach as high as 30.7 percent.

Tariff Workaround

“We have recently announced an industrial partnership to give Leapmotor capacity at one of our Spanish plants to build their cars on their platform,” Filosa said during the event, reports Auto News. “That will start very soon.”

While Stellantis hasn’t said which Leapmotor models will be built in Spain, a recent report indicated that the B10 electric SUV is the most likely candidate. Leapmotor is thought to be investing up to $200 million into one of Stellantis’s Spanish factories to make it happen. Zaragoza has been reported as a potential location for Leapmotor’s local production base, as Stellantis is building a massive battery gigafactory there with CATL, set to open next year.

Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs

Leapmotor’s European Plans

Interestingly, Leapmotor has already dipped a toe into European manufacturing. The brand previously assembled the T03 minicar at Stellantis’s plant in Tychy, Poland, though production ended in April. There had also been plans to build the B10 in Poland, but those have since been abandoned.

Leapmotor lifted the veil on the European-spec B10 late last year and recently opened the order books for it. Positioned as a rival to the likes of the Kia EV3, BYD Atto 3, and Honda Kona Electric, the B10 starts at €29,900 ($35,400).

Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs
Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs

Photos Stefan Baldauf & Guido ten Brink