Leapmotor International, a joint venture between Stellantis and Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) company Leapmotor, has debuted in Europe with two all-electric cars.

The models are being gradually introduced to Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. By year-end, the 51-49 JV led by Stellantis plans to have 350 sales points, 50 of which will be in the UK, Kallanish learns.

In the British market, the family-oriented, D-segment SUV C10 is priced at £36,500 ($48,808). The BEV is marketed with “premium features,” offering a range of 261 miles (WLTP).

The T03, meanwhile, is described as the “smart choice for the city.” The compact, A-segment BEV offers a range of 165 miles and is priced at £15,995 ($21,388). Stellantis says it’s the UK’s “best value electric car on sale.”

While the JV is working to establish production capacity in Poland, it takes advantage of Leapmotor’s EV ecosystem in China, which is highly innovative and efficient in terms of costs. Stellantis, meanwhile, offers well-established distribution channels and the reputation of a European carmaker.  

“Both C10 and T03 models offer high levels of performance, efficiency, safety and range,” Stellantis says in a press release, adding the C10 is created for the global market, in line with international safety and design standards.

The SUV is based on the LEAP 3.0 architecture developed by Leapmotor, featuring a centrally integrated electronic configuration, cell-to-chassis system, and a smart cockpit. Through Leapmotor’s full-stack in-house development, around 60% of the vehicle software and hardware development is original.

“The key advantages of this approach are controllable R&D costs, superior vehicle performance, and stronger resilience to the risks of supply chain disruptions and market volatility,” Stellantis adds.

From Q4, the JV plans to expand sales to the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and South America. It has identified a few markets including Turkey, Israel, overseas French territories, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil and Chile.

It plans to introduce one new model each year over the next three years.