Future Hongqi models could be assembled at a Stellantis plant in Spain. The talks are said to run through the Leapmotor joint venture link. European production would help Hongqi avoid the EU’s tariffs on imports. China’s Hongqi is reportedly in talks with Stellantis to build vehicles in Spain. The discussions are allegedly being conducted through Leapmotor, which sounds complicated. However, Stellantis has a 20% stake in Leapmotor, while Hongqi’s parent company, the FAW Group, owns 5%. More: China’s Most Luxurious Brand Is Coming For Europe With 15 New Models And It’s A Red Flag Specific details remain unclear, but Reuters is reporting the discussions “could accelerate Hongqi’s European expansion and its plans to launch more than a dozen EV and hybrid models in the region by 2028, while helping ​it avoid spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a new factory.” Furthermore, European production would enable the company to escape hefty tariffs on imports. The three automakers are staying tight-lipped, but a Stellantis spokesperson told the publication they hold “discussions with a range of industry players around the world on various topics, always with the ultimate aim of providing customers with the ​best mobility choices.” Whether the talks lead anywhere is another matter, but Stellantis has reportedly been talking to several Chinese automakers about European production. Earlier this month, a report suggested the company was considering a partnership with Dongfeng that could result in the Chinese firm gaining access to underutilized Stellantis plants in Europe, while Dongfeng could build Stellantis vehicles in China. Dongfeng officials reportedly visited plants in Italy and Germany as part of the discussions. Stellantis has also reportedly been talking to Xpeng and Xiaomi. The large number of discussions could indicate the Dutch conglomerate is effectively gathering offers and exploring what deal could potentially work out best. Hongqi was launched in China in 1958 and became the “first car produced independently in China.” The brand was quickly embraced by high-ranking officials including Mao Zedong, the founding leader of the People’s Republic, who considered it a point of national pride at a time when the country was still leaning heavily on Soviet limousines. More recently, the luxury brand has been eyeing Europe. Hongqi has already established a presence in a number of countries and aims to open more than 200 dealerships across the continent by 2028.
