Overview
- Opel confirmed Friday it is developing a new battery‑electric C‑segment SUV with Leapmotor, targeting under two years of development and a production start in summer 2028 at Stellantis’ Saragossa plant in Spain.
- Leapmotor will provide the battery, electric drive, and the vehicle’s electrical and digital architecture, while Opel will handle design, chassis tuning, seats, lighting, and the user experience to keep the model distinct to the brand.
- The SUV is aimed at the roughly 4.5‑meter compact class to fill the sales gap between Opel’s Frontera and Grandland, and it will launch solely as a battery‑electric model.
- Opel and Stellantis describe the project as a blueprint for deeper industrial collaboration with Leapmotor, with any broader manufacturing or sourcing deals still dependent on binding contracts and regulatory approvals.
- The announcement comes as Stellantis reduces Opel’s Rüsselsheim engineering headcount and cancels a planned Kaiserslautern battery cell plant, signaling a shift toward partnering for core EV systems and supply chains.