Overview
- Stellantis confirmed this week that it will expand its joint venture with Chinese maker Leapmotor to build Leapmotor models at two plants in Spain under a broadened Europe plan.
- The company is already Leapmotor’s largest shareholder with about 21% ownership and holds a 51% stake in a joint venture that gives it rights to sell, distribute and manufacture Leapmotor cars outside China.
- CEO Antonio Filosa said the partnership could extend to Mexico and possibly Canada while excluding the United States, and reports identify the idle Brampton, Ontario plant as a candidate for partial‑kit reassembly if Canada moves forward.
- Stellantis frames the deals as part of a turnaround to use roughly 40% spare European capacity, lower manufacturing costs and meet local‑content and tariff rules that would otherwise penalize Chinese EV imports.
- Major details remain under study or in memoranda of understanding, and the plan faces execution, regulatory and labour risks including union scrutiny, national‑security limits in some markets and uncertainty about Leapmotor’s long‑term global strength.