On May 8, Stellantis announced plans to further deepen its strategic partnership with Leapmotor. According to official disclosures, the expanded cooperation will focus on Spanish manufacturing operations, electric vehicle production, and supply chain integration. As part of the plan, Stellantis’ Figueruelas plant in Zaragoza, Spain, will add a new production line for a new Opel C-segment all-electric SUV. The model is expected to share its production line with the Leapmotor B10, with mass production tentatively scheduled for 2028. Leapmotor B10 Last month, Reuters reported that Stellantis was in talks with Leapmotor to jointly develop an Opel electric SUV for production in Spain. With both parties now formally outlining the cooperation framework, the project appears to have entered an implementation phase. The Zaragoza facility is also one of Stellantis’ key EV manufacturing bases in Europe. Under current plans, the Leapmotor B10 will begin production there in 2026. Another notable aspect of the partnership is supply chain integration. In the future, Stellantis and Leapmotor plan to conduct joint procurement operations through Leapmotor International. This means the Opel electric SUV produced in Spain could source some core components from Leapmotor International’s supply ecosystem, potentially lowering EV manufacturing costs in Europe. Meanwhile, Stellantis’ Villaverde plant in Madrid faces future excess capacity as production of the Citroën C4 approaches its end. Stellantis & Leapmotor strategic cooperation signing ceremony The two companies plan to introduce several Leapmotor models into the facility and are also studying the feasibility of transferring plant ownership to Leapmotor International’s Spanish subsidiary. The partnership between Stellantis and Leapmotor began in 2023, when Stellantis invested approximately $1.6 billion to acquire about a 21% stake in Leapmotor. The two companies also established Leapmotor International, 51% controlled by Stellantis, to oversee overseas operations. Over the past 18 months, Leapmotor International has built more than 850 sales and service outlets across Europe. Leapmotor T03 and C10 Since the launch of the T03 and C10 in Europe, cumulative shipments in 2025 have already exceeded 40,000 units. At the same time, Leapmotor International continues to expand globally. Over the past year, the business has entered markets in South America, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Africa, and officially launched operations in Mexico in April.
