Leapmotor T03 European production starts ahead of September launch

A new report says that the Leapmotor T03’s European production has commenced. The Chinese brand is scheduled to be introduced in the region in September.

The Leapmotor T03 entered production at Stellantis’ factory in Tychy, Poland, in the third week of June (10-16 June), Reuters wrote in an article on 17 June. Based on a Jefferies report from the earlier day, the article added that mass production of the Chinese EV at the Polish plant will start in September, in line with Leapmotor International’s European launch timeline announced in May.

Leapmotor International, a 51/49 Stellantis-led JV with Leapmotor, will manage the operations of the Chinese startup brand in Europe, India & Asia Pacific (excl. Greater China), Middle East & Africa, and South America. Headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, the JV has exclusive rights to export, manufacture, and sell Leapmotor products outside Greater China.

Leaptmotor International plans to introduce at least one new model every year, and so far, it has confirmed the Leapmotor T03 and Leapmotor C10, both of which are already on sale in China. The T03 is an electric city car with a targeted WLTP range of 265 km and will compete with the Dacia Spring, which comes from China. The Leapmotor C10 is a mid-size SUV available in China in pure electric and range-extender electric variants. For Europe, however, only the fully electric variant has been confirmed, with a targeted WLTP range of 420 km.

According to the report, the Leapmotor A12, an upcoming compact SUV, will enter production as the brand’s second model at Stellantis’ Tychy plant. Preparation of localised component production is also underway. Stellantis’ Polish factory became Leapmotor International’s preferred location for European production mainly to keep costs low. Compared to approximately €1,000 in Italy, the production cost per vehicle at the Polish plant is approximately €400-500, similar to Leapmotor’s site in China.

Unlike the Leapmotor T03 and Leapmotor A12, the Leapmotor C10 will be an EV imported from China. Following the EU’s revision in tariff on China-made EVs last week, this model should attract a 21% import duty. Leapmotor International will be present in nine European countries from September – France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Greece, and Romania. By the end of the year, it will have a network of 200 retail outlets in the region.

reuters.com