A few days ago, Stellantis announced its acquisition of a 20% stake in the Chinese brand Leapmotor for 1.5 billion euros. This significant move is aimed at further expanding the portfolio of brands under Stellantis’ umbrella. The strategic goal is clear: enter the Chinese market and promote the sales of affordable electric vehicles. In this context, the intriguing possibility of an electric city car jointly developed by Stellantis and Leapmotor has emerged.
Here’s what the first electric city car from Stellantis and Leapmotor might look like
This new collaboration will further enrich the impressive list of brands managed by Stellantis, including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Mopar, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, and Vauxhall. Now, the Chinese brand Leapmotor joins the mix.
Stellantis has outlined a clear strategy focused exclusively on the affordable electric car segment, with the intention to market them in Europe, targeting budget-conscious customers who desire the best available technologies, as explained by Natalie Knight, CFO of Stellantis.
The joint venture’s headquarters will be located in the Netherlands and will be named “Leapmotor International”, with Stellantis holding a 51% stake. The new models will be produced outside of China and intended for the European market. The goal is to sell at least 500,000 cars annually by 2030, an ambitious yet achievable target for these two giants.
Currently, Leapmotor is selling the T03 model in Europe, a vehicle similar to the Fiat 500, but it’s only available in France and Israel. This vehicle offers a range of 280 kilometers and is priced at around 20,000 euros. If a similar model were introduced to the Italian market, it could become an affordable option in the landscape of electric cars in Italy.
In the meantime, some individuals, like Kdesignag, have begun to speculate about potential future developments, suggesting the possibility of a new electric city car bearing the Fiat brand, which could materialize as a result of this collaboration between Stellantis and Leapmotor. This option could make an appealing electric city car available on the market for approximately 20,000 euros.