Within a few months, the Chinese manufacturer Leapmotor entered the European market with its competitor Dacia Spring Leapmotor T03.

At the moment, its success remains rather relative, but the recent collaboration with Stellantis could change the situation.

Will Chinese cars save the European factory?

Some observers see this alliance as a “Trojan horse”, while others see it as an opportunity to save jobs and stimulate the automotive industry in Europe. The situation at the Stellantis Mirafiori plant in Italy clearly illustrates the current challenges in the sector. Faced with an unstable situation in the electricity market, the plant had to leave its workers on partial unemployment due to the lack of sufficient demand. Faced with this situation, Stellantis is banking on a partnership with Leapmotor to breathe new life into its Italian plant. The contract provides for reception 150,000 units of Leapmotor models at the Mirafiori plantthus providing a perspective for the future of the workers and the factory.
The strategy is part of Stellantis’ wider commitment to the Italian government, which aims to increase production in the country to one million cars by the end of the decade. Production of Leapmotor models for Europe may begin from 2026thus contributing to this goal.

Double interest for Stellantis

For Leapmotor, this partnership is a great opportunity to bypass possible obstacles related to the import of Chinese cars to Europe, including possible fines that may be imposed by the European Union.

Investing almost 1.5 billion euros to acquire approximately 20% of Leapmotor, Stellantis is fully committed to this collaboration, is looking to increase its own sales in China while accelerating Leapmotor’s sales in Europe.

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