China’s Leapmotor and its partner Stellantis announced on Tuesday that they will begin accepting orders for an SUV and a city car in the European market. This effort aims to increase the number of affordable electric vehicles (EVs) available in the region.
Stellantis owns a 51 percent share in its joint venture, Leapmotor International. This makes it the first traditional Western automaker to enjoy exclusive rights to develop, export, and market Leapmotor products outside of China.
The JV announced that the C10 SUV will go on sale in October, starting at 36,400 euros. Meanwhile, the T03 tiny car will launch at the end of September for 18,900 euros ($20,990).
On Tuesday, the two models had their European debut close to Milan.
The T03, which was originally imported from China, will also be constructed in Europe at Stellantis’ Tychy facility in Poland. This assembly could help the brand escape taxes imposed by the European Union on Chinese electric vehicle imports.
Carlos Tavares, the CEO of Stellantis, made a vague suggestion that the C10 model would be produced in Europe.
Leapmotor will become Stellantis’ fifteenth brand. It will help the fourth-largest carmaker in the world expand its selection of reasonably priced electric vehicles (EVs) as Stellantis continues to electrify and comply with EU pollution regulations amid weakening global demand for EVs.
Tavares opposes a request for relaxation from intermediate CO2 limits for cars and vans that are set to take effect in the EU in 2025, made by the European auto group ACEA. The industry needs to sell EVs for the same price as gasoline-powered cars, he stated last week.
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