Leapmotor broadens its presence to seven additional European markets
Leapmotor, a leading Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has embarked on an ambitious expansion in Europe, marking a significant milestone in its mission to build a customer-centric EV ecosystem in the continent.
The expansion is spearheaded by Leapmotor International, a joint venture held by Leapmotor and Stellantis, with exclusive rights for the export, sale, production, and assembly of Leapmotor products outside Greater China. This strategic partnership leverages Stellantis' extensive global resources, commercial expertise, and established networks to accelerate the sales of Leapmotor's high-tech, affordable EVs.
Markets and Models
Leapmotor has debuted in Europe with two key models—the Leapmotor T03, a compact city electric car offering 165 miles of WLTP range, and the C10, an electric D-SUV with a 261-mile WLTP range. The T03 and C10 are priced competitively, with the T03 starting at £15,995 in the UK and the C10 at £36,500. In Spain, the T03 and C10 are priced from €11,900 and €25,900 respectively, including government grants.
The expansion includes plans for 350 sales points in Europe by the end of 2024, with 50 points in the UK alone. As of mid-2025, Leapmotor has already established around 600 sales and service points across Europe.
Partnerships
The joint venture with Stellantis is central to Leapmotor's European strategy. This partnership combines Leapmotor’s tech growth and vertical integration with Stellantis’ 130 years of automotive experience, presence in over 130 markets, 14 global brands, and production in 30+ countries. This collaboration allows Leapmotor to complement Stellantis’ existing portfolio with more affordable electric vehicles.
Timelines for Growth
Leapmotor plans to introduce one new vehicle each year for the next three years following 2025. By the end of 2025, Leapmotor aims to have over 700 locations in the G10 countries and the main import markets.
Market Impact
Chinese EV brands, including Leapmotor, are rapidly increasing market share in Europe, nearly doubling from 2.7% in early 2024 to 5.1% in the first half of 2025. Leapmotor is among the five top Chinese EV brands driving this growth, alongside BYD, Jaecoo, Omoda, and Xpeng. Chinese brands have surpassed several traditional European brands in sales, underscoring Leapmotor’s growing presence in European EV markets.
Leapmotor has partnered with Gowan Auto for the market launch in Ireland, a company that is also an importer for all Stellantis brands and Honda. In addition, Leapmotor has entered the markets of France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Greece, and Romania, with the Emil Frey Group as a partner in Switzerland.
To increase customer comfort and ensure quicker availability of spare parts, Leapmotor aims to reduce the average driving time to a sales and service location across Europe to under 25 minutes. For the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, and Croatia, Leapmotor is collaborating with the Emil Frey Group. For Bulgaria, Leapmotor is working with SFA Automotive LTD, the existing distribution partner of Stellantis brands in the country.
In conclusion, Leapmotor's European expansion is characterized by a strong joint venture with Stellantis, rapid dealer network growth, competitive pricing of two EV models focused on urban and family segments, and a clear timeline of annual new model introductions aimed at accelerating its footprint across key European markets between 2024 and 2027. Irish customers can buy the T03 and C10 city cars from Gowan Auto's sales center in Citywest, Dublin, starting from September 2025.
- Leapmotor's growth in Europe is propelled by partnerships, such as the joint venture with Stellantis, which leverages Stellantis' resources, expertise, and networks to accelerate the sales of Leapmotor's affordable electric vehicles. This partnership also allows Leapmotor to complement Stellantis’ existing portfolio with more affordable electric vehicles in the automotive industry.
- The expansion of Leapmotor in Europe is evident in the introduction of two key models, the T03 and C10, priced competitively across multiple markets, including the UK, Spain, and Ireland. These models cater to urban and family segments within the transportation industry.
- As part of its European strategy, Leapmotor aims to establish a strong presence by setting up 350 sales points by the end of 2024, utilizing technology to reduce the average driving time to a sales and service location across Europe to under 25 minutes, thereby ensuring customer comfort and quicker availability of spare parts in the business sector.
