Leapmotor Lands in Brazil with Backing from Stellantis
Chinese EV Brand Begins Importing C10 SUVs Ahead of 2025 Launch
Leapmotor, the up-and-coming Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brand backed by Stellantis, has officially kicked off its Brazilian launch by importing its first batch of vehicles into the country. These initial units mark a major milestone for the brand’s South American expansion, with retail sales set to begin in 2025.
The move comes as part of the Stellantis-Leapmotor International joint venture, which aims to take Leapmotor global, starting with high-growth markets like Brazil. The first units to arrive are various configurations of the Leapmotor C10—an electrified SUV that, along with the upcoming B10, will headline the brand’s launch lineup in Brazil.
According to Fernando Varela, Leapmotor’s Vice President for South America, the arrival of these vehicles represents a significant step forward. “The arrival of the first Leapmotors to Brazil is an important step in the great challenge of implementing an unprecedented brand in the country,” he said. “This phase was successfully completed thanks to Stellantis’ expertise.”
One key innovation used in the process is a streamlined import system called “import on water.” This method allows vehicles to be legally processed before they even reach Brazil’s Port of Santos. That way, once the ship docks, there’s no need to wait on customs clearance before unloading. It’s a smart, efficient approach that lines up with Leapmotor’s tech-forward reputation.
The company is already building a dealership network across major Brazilian cities, ensuring that once sales go live in 2025, customers will have a solid infrastructure of support.
Leapmotor’s push into Brazil comes at a time when the brand is riding high. July 2025 was a record-setting month for the automaker, with over 50,000 vehicles delivered globally—a 126% year-over-year increase. For the first half of 2025 alone, Leapmotor delivered more than 220,000 units in China, and the company wrapped up 2024 with just under 294,000 cars registered.
These numbers firmly establish Leapmotor as the leading EV startup in China, driven by a strategy that emphasizes affordability, innovation, and practicality. For Brazil, that means models like the C10 and B10 will be tailored to local needs, with technologies like REEV (Range-Extended Electric Vehicle) powertrains that offer longer driving ranges without relying fully on public charging stations—an ideal solution for a country still building out its EV infrastructure.
Leapmotor’s Brazilian debut represents more than just a new name on the market. It’s a test case for Stellantis’ plan to use its global muscle to help emerging EV brands scale quickly and efficiently. And for Brazilian drivers, it’s the beginning of a new era in accessible electric mobility.
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