Stellantis Powers Leapmotor’s European Growth

Stellantis is putting its weight behind Leapmotor, the fast-rising Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brand, as the two push forward with a major rollout across Europe. Just months after forming a joint venture called Leapmotor International—51% owned by Stellantis—the partnership is already showing results, with 600 sales and service locations now open across the continent.

The move positions Leapmotor as an unofficial 15th brand in the Stellantis portfolio, one that’s gaining serious momentum thanks to Stellantis’ manufacturing and distribution muscle outside China.

Stellantis + Leapmotor: A Global Game Plan – 

In May 2024, Stellantis and Leapmotor officially teamed up to create Leapmotor International. The deal gives Stellantis exclusive rights to export, sell, and even build Leapmotor EVs for every market outside China.

Since then, Leapmotor has been busy rolling into new countries, building out a strong dealer network, and preparing to launch sales in several more European markets by 2025. The goal? Over 700 locations and full EV coverage across the G10 and other key markets in less than a year.

“This isn’t just about selling cars—it’s about building an EV ecosystem people can trust,” said Danilo Annese, who heads up Leapmotor’s commercial operations in Europe. “With Stellantis behind us, we’re putting service and support within 25 minutes of most European customers.”

New Markets: From Ireland to Eastern Europe – 

In just the past two weeks, Leapmotor has officially entered seven new European countries:

• Ireland: Partnering with Gowan Auto, which also imports all Stellantis brands and Honda, Leapmotor will be based at Gowan’s Citywest distribution center in Dublin. Sales of the T03 city car and C10 SUV (available as both a full EV and range-extender) begin September 2025.

• Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia: Working with Emil Frey Group, one of Europe’s largest dealer networks, Leapmotor will expand beyond its existing presence in Switzerland. Emil Frey’s footprint will help quickly scale both retail and service operations across these five new countries.

• Bulgaria: In Bulgaria, SFA Automotive LTD—already a trusted Stellantis partner—will launch the brand with the T03 and C10, backed by a growing number of sales and service points.

Why It Matters – 

The EV market in Europe is highly competitive, but Leapmotor’s approach—compact, tech-loaded EVs at reasonable prices—makes it attractive for younger and first-time EV buyers. With Stellantis’ support, Leapmotor isn’t just entering Europe—it’s setting up to stay.

Service proximity is a big part of that strategy. Thanks to the expanding dealer footprint, most customers will be no more than 25 minutes from a Leapmotor service center. That means faster repairs, better parts availability, and a smoother ownership experience—important factors for winning over EV skeptics.

What’s Next? – 

Leapmotor plans to keep pushing deeper into Europe in 2025, adding more countries and more dealers. If things continue on this track, they could quickly become one of the top challengers to mainstream EV brands—especially in the subcompact and midsize segments.

With Stellantis helping manage the backend—from logistics to support to scaling production—Leapmotor is one to watch as the EV race heats up outside of China.