Arrival of the first Leapmotor in Europe
The first Chinese electric cars Leapmotor assembled in Europe by the Stellantis group will be delivered starting from September. Two models, the compact T03 and the electric SUV C10, are expected.
A brand still little known
Leapmotor, a company based in Hangzhou and founded in 2015 by Fu Liquan, is still little known in France despite the presence of distributors. The brand already offers the small T03, a rival of the Dacia Spring, which convinced us during our test. However, competition in the affordable electric car market is becoming increasingly intense with the arrival of models like the Citroën ë-C3 and the Renault 5 E-Tech.
European production
Stellantis, having invested massively in the brand, plans to market Leapmotor cars in Europe. Carlos Tavares, the group’s CEO, announced at a conference that deliveries of Leapmotor produced in Europe will begin in September, with 800 vehicles already on the way. Production of the T03 began in June in European factories.
Assembly in Europe
Leapmotor cars will be assembled in Europe to avoid the increase in customs duties imposed by Brussels. The vehicles are delivered in kit form, then assembled in the Tychy factory in Poland, which also produces the new Alfa Romeo Junior. This will allow the city car to benefit from the ecological bonus of 4,000 euros, normally reserved for locally produced cars.
The future SUV model C10
The SUV C10, a direct competitor to the Renault Mégane E-Tech and the Volkswagen ID.4, could be imported directly from China, although this would subject it to a 30.8% tax. To avoid this additional cost, it is possible that the C10 will also be assembled in Poland. Leapmotor seems to have a bright future in Europe, with already 200 resellers interested in distributing the brand in nine countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain.
