Leapmotor International exports first batch of EVs to Europe

Leapmotor International, a 51/49 Stellantis-Leapmotor joint venture company, has started exporting electric cars from China to Europe. The first batch consists of two models - the T03 city car and the C10 mid-size SUV.

Leapmotor International shipped the first electric cars from the Shanghai port. It sources the T03 and C10 from the Leapmotor factory in Jinhua (Zhejiang Province), nearly 400 km southwest of the Shanghai port. According to an announcement from the Jinhua municipal government, this factory has an annual production capacity of 120,000 vehicles.

“The shipment of Leapmotor C10 and T03 vehicles to Europe this month is a landmark moment in the partnership between Stellantis and Leapmotor,” said Carlos Tavares, the CEO of Stellantis. Zhu Jiangming, the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Leapmotor is counting on the first EVs to lay a strong foundation in the international markets. “Since the very beginning, the C10 and T03 models are designed to meet the high standards of global customers and we are confident that the collaboration between Stellantis and Leapmotor will drive significant growth for both companies” he said.

Leapmotor International didn’t disclose the quantity of the first batch. However, just last week, during Stellantis’ H1 2024 earnings conference call, Tavares said the first shipment consists of 800 cars. One of the images of the event Leapmotor shared on its Weibo page shows 250 of those cars parked beside the Viking Queen, the designated vehicle carrier.

leapmotor international shanghai port export batch viking queen — Image: Leapmotor

leapmotor europe export batch — Image: Leapmotor

leapmotor europe export batch shanghai port — Image: Leapmotor

leapmotor cars at shanghai port — Image: Leapmotor

leapmotor t03 rear shanghai port — Image: Leapmotor

leapmotor t03 rear fascia export batch — Image: Leapmotor

leapmotor t03 export europe — Image: Leapmotor

Beginning in September, Leapmotor International will sell the T03 and C10 in nine European countries. By 2026, the company aims to establish 500 sales points in the region and will use Stellantis’ local distribution network to achieve that goal.

Previously, reports said Leapmotor International will source the T03 for European markets from Stellantis’ factory in Tychy, Poland. In fact, Tavares said during Stellantis’ H1 2024 earnings conference call that the joint venture company has already decided on several vehicle assembly plants in Europe to circumvent tariffs.

Leapmotor International plans to launch at least one model each year between 2025 and 2027. At the end of 2024, the company will foray into the Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific, and South America. According to a previous announcement, it initially eyes Turkey, Israel, and French Overseas in the Middle East and Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and Malaysia in the Asia-Pacific, and Brazil and Chile in South America. It is reportedly considering launching cars in South Korea as well.

weibo.com (in Chinese), stellantis.com (shipment), yahoo.com (earnings call)