Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor has selected Stellantis’ assembly plant in Zaragoza to establish its first European manufacturing base. While the car group’s Tychy plant had already produced some vehicles from Leapmotor, Poland has politically fallen out of favour and seems to have lost its assembly slot to Spain.
The rumors were growing over Leapmotor’s choice for Zaragoza. Still, local media in China now report that the site is already partly under conversion to build Leapmotor’s B-series vehicles, beginning with the compact B10 SUV.
Production is now targeted for the third quarter of 2026, later than earlier projections that suggested a 2025 start. The delay reflects both the complexity of converting Stellantis’ facility and the challenges that have marked Leapmotor’s entry into the European market.
Second attempt
The B10 will headline Leapmotor’s European lineup when it makes its European debut this week at the IAA Mobility show in Munich. Also scheduled to appear in Munich is the B05, which is believed to be previewed by the Lafa 5 (see below).
For Stellantis, which took a €1.5 billion stake in Leapmotor last year to become its largest outside investor, the Zaragoza project represents a second attempt at integrating Leapmotor into its European production network.
The two companies had previously started limited output of the Leapmotor T03 city car at Stellantis’ Tychy, Poland, plant. But production there was abruptly halted this spring, just months after the first units rolled off the line.
Policy shift
Industry insiders point to Beijing’s quiet pressure on Chinese automakers to limit investments in countries backing the European Union’s tariff regime on China-made EVs. Poland was among those states, and the T03 project was reportedly a casualty of the policy shift.
In that context, Zaragoza emerged as the preferred alternative, offering proximity to CATL’s planned 50-GWh battery factory and room to expand at Stellantis’ underutilized facility.
The decision also highlights the delicate balance within Leapmotor International, the Stellantis-led joint venture that governs overseas business. Stellantis holds a majority 51% stake; however, the Chinese partner’s influence remains evident in strategic decisions, such as the selection of production sites.
Other potential locations, including Stellantis’ plants in Eisenach, Germany, and Trnava, Slovakia, were reportedly considered before Spain won out.
For young drivers
While European plans advance, Leapmotor is enjoying rapid growth at home. The company delivered 57,066 vehicles in August, representing an 88% year-over-year increase and its fourth consecutive record month.
Deliveries in the first eight months of the year surged 136% to 328,859, pushing the automaker into profit for the first time in its young history. A significant feat, as most start-ups in China are struggling to generate revenue amid a price war that is eroding their business model.
At the IAA, Leapmotor will unveil the Lafa 5 (see picture above), a compact hatchback with roof-mounted LiDAR and a design reminiscent of BYD’s Seagull.
Billed by company executives as a ‘dream car’ for young drivers, the Lafa 5 marks Leapmotor’s entry into the competitive EV hatchback segment, going up against the Volkswagen ID.3, MG4, and Nio’s Firefly, which has just landed in Belgium.
