Leapmotor’s Impressive Health Contrasts with Stellantis’ Troubles
This page is translated from the original post "La santé insolente de Leapmotor contraste avec les tourments de Stellantis" in French.
- 21/08/2025 11:39
While Stellantis is going through a turbulent period, its Chinese ally Leapmotor is making a name for itself on the Old Continent.
In just one year, Leapmotor’s European sales have skyrocketed from 163 to over 8,000 units in the first half of 2025. This is a staggering increase of nearly 5,000%. Certainly, there was no product range before, and the volumes remain modest compared to giants like BYD or MG, but for a startup born in 2015 and unknown in Europe, the breakthrough is remarkable.
This leap can be attributed to the effectiveness of the partnership with Stellantis, allowing the Chinese brand’s models to be displayed in Peugeot and Opel showrooms. Customers, reassured, benefit from a solid network and European warranties, a decisive asset for a brand that is still relatively unheard of. The small urban model T03 leads the charge with unbeatable prices, while new vehicles are expected to quickly complement the lineup.
Leapmotor is accelerating even more!
And the momentum is just beginning. Leapmotor is preparing for industrial establishment in Europe as early as 2026, likely in Spain at a factory abandoned by Stellantis, to avoid impending tariffs on imported cars from China. And considering the number of Stellantis sites threatened with closure, it becomes clear that Leapmotor will never need to build a factory on the old continent!
The contrast is striking with Stellantis, mired in the Takata AirTags scandal, facing multiple recalls and an unclear electric strategy. How can one accept that Alfa Romeo and Lancia are fighting for their survival, while Leapmotor reports record margins and a first semester profit?
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In Europe, the startup is not just nibbling at market shares, it is solidly positioning itself backed by Stellantis’s distribution network. A paradoxical situation, where the European group, entangled in its difficulties, serves as a springboard for a partner that could one day surpass it.
So, was Carlos Tavares right to bet on China to save his electric strategy? Undoubtedly. But seeing the rapid rise of Leapmotor, another question emerges with a hint of insolence: what if this “strategic partnership” is transforming into a Chinese Trojan horse, ready to penetrate the European fortress?
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