Stellantis’ Tychy Plant Begins Leapmotor T03 Production

The Stellantis Tychy Assembly Plant in Poland, known for producing the Fiat 500, Jeep® Avenger, Fiat 600, and Alfa Romeo Junior, has now commenced production of the Leapmotor T03, a small electric city car from the Chinese EV startup Leapmotor. This move is part of a joint venture between Stellantis and Leapmotor, signaling a significant shift in the plant’s output and the European EV market.

The Leapmotor T03, the first model to be produced under this collaboration, is a compact city car that directly competes with the existing Fiat 500e. With a wheelbase 3.1 inches longer than the Fiat 500e, the T03 is slightly shorter, narrower, and taller. The T03 has a 55 kW (74 horsepower) motor and a 36.5 kWh lithium-ion battery, offering a range of up to 403 km (250 miles) and a fast-charging capability of 80% in 36 minutes. In comparison, the Fiat 500e features an 87 kW (116 horsepower) motor and a 42 kWh battery, providing a range of 400 km (249 miles).

The T03 is set to be competitively priced in the European market, with a starting price of around €20,100 (approximately $21,500 USD) in France. This is significantly lower than the Fiat 500e, which starts at €30,400 (about $32,600 USD) in the same market. This pricing strategy indicates a direct challenge to established models, potentially reshaping consumer choices in the affordable EV segment.

Cost considerations largely drive Stellantis’ decision to produce the T03 at the Tychy plant. Manufacturing costs at the Polish facility are estimated to be between €400 to €500 (or about $428 to $535) per car, which is on par with Leapmotor’s production costs in China and significantly lower than the €1,000 per car production cost in Italy.

In addition to the T03, Stellantis and Leapmotor plan to produce a second model, the A12, an SUV at the Tychy plant beginning in the first quarter of 2025. Preparations for localized component production at the Polish plant are already underway, suggesting a long-term commitment to this partnership and further integration into the European market.

Leapmotor also plans to manufacture its C10 SUV in China for export to Europe, targeting higher market prices. The C10 is already offered as an all-electric and an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV). EREV means a small displacement engine onboard that acts as a generator to recharge the batteries, similar to that of the upcoming 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger.

Starting in September, Stellantis will begin rolling out Leapmotor vehicles to nine European countries, including Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. However, the European Commission’s recent announcement to impose an additional 21% duty on imported Chinese EVs, effective July, poses a potential challenge to this strategy.

Stellantis has a 51% stake in Leapmotor, giving the company the exclusive rights to build, export, and sell Leapmotor products outside China.