Leapmotor plans European expansion via Stellantis partnership

Chinese automaker Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology Co. plans to expand its presence in Europe, with the goal of introducing a new hybrid vehicle to the market in the first half of 2027. According to company president Michael Yun, these expansion plans are not dependent on potential European Union measures to restrict hybrid vehicle supplies from China.

Leapmotor, a partner of Stellantis, will begin supplying its first European-made vehicles from the Stellantis plant in Zaragoza, Spain. These initial models will be B10 electric crossovers. The company intends to utilize the Zaragoza facility to assemble additional models in the coming months, using a mix of components imported from China and parts sourced within Europe. The factory's production capacity is expected to range between 50,000 and 100,000 vehicles annually, with plans for future increases. Leapmotor anticipates its overseas sales will double next year, reaching approximately 400,000 vehicles.

In a separate legal matter in Armenia, the Anti-Corruption Court has partially satisfied a claim by the Shirak Regional Prosecutor's Office. The court declared an auction held in September 2003 for the eastern wing of a nursery in Artik invalid. Because the property cannot be returned in its original form, a physical individual has been ordered to compensate the Artik community with 12,444,000 AMD.