Leapmotor and Stellantis begin electric vehicle production in Spain

Leapmotor and Stellantis have commenced production of the Leapmotor B10 electric SUV at the Stellantis manufacturing plant in Figueruelas, near Zaragoza, Spain. This marks a significant shift for the Chinese automaker, as it transitions from exporting vehicles from China to local manufacturing within Europe through their joint venture, Leapmotor International.

In addition to vehicle assembly, a nearby facility in Malen has begun producing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery modules and packs. This dual-factory approach aims to increase local content, reduce reliance on Chinese imports, and mitigate the impact of potential EU tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles.

The partnership, in which Stellantis holds a 51 percent majority stake, is expected to expand. Plans are already in motion to include the Leapmotor B05 compact electric model on the Spanish assembly lines in the first half of next year. This localized production strategy also allows Leapmotor models to qualify for environmental subsidies, such as the 'écoscore' in France, making them more competitive in the European market.