BUSINESS

Stellantis, Leapmotor Get Closer With Expanded EV Partnership

Published: May. 11, 2026 1:43 p.m. GMT+8

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European auto giant Stellantis NV and Chinese electric-vehicle (EV) maker Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology Co. Ltd. plan to expand their partnership to include joint procurement and production lines.

The deepened tie-up highlights how the legacy automaker is leaning on Chinese technology to navigate a choppy EV transition, while providing the Chinese brand a localized footprint to dodge European tariffs and reduce logistics costs.

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Stellantis and Leapmotor to expand partnership with joint procurement and new Spain production: Zaragoza line for Leapmotor model (2026) and Opel EV (2028), Madrid plant transfer for new model (mid-2028).
Benefits: Stellantis cuts R&D costs; Leapmotor avoids EU tariffs, lowers logistics.
Leapmotor shipped 40,000+ EVs in Europe by 2025 end, delivered 596,000 vehicles with $79M profit; Stellantis holds 18.99% stake.

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Who’s Who

Stellantis NV: Stellantis NV, world's fifth-largest carmaker (5.5M vehicles sold in 2025), is expanding its partnership with Leapmotor: joint procurement, new Zaragoza, Spain production line for EVs (Leapmotor model by 2026, Opel by 2028), and potential Madrid plant transfer to JV. Holds 18.99% stake in Leapmotor; adjusting EV shift with more hybrids amid slow sales.

Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology Co. Ltd.: Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology Co. Ltd., China's top new-energy vehicle startup by 2025 sales (596,000 units), posted first annual profit of $79M. Deepening Stellantis partnership for joint procurement and Spanish production (Zaragoza 2026/2028, Madrid mid-2028). Leapmotor International shipped >40,000 EVs in Europe by end-2025; Feb registrations hit ~8,000, up 789% YoY. Aims for 60% overseas revenue.

Leapmotor International: Leapmotor International is the joint venture between Stellantis and Leapmotor for overseas manufacturing and sales. It shipped over 40,000 Leapmotor vehicles in Europe by end-2025. Plans include joint procurement for cost savings, a new Zaragoza, Spain production line by 2026-2028, and transferring a Madrid plant to its Spanish subsidiary for a new model by mid-2028.

Jato Dynamics: **Jato Dynamics** is cited as the source for Leapmotor pure EV registration data in Europe: nearly 8,000 units in February, up 789% year-on-year.

AI generated, for reference only