Leapmotor International Established – JV with Stellantis, to Enter Malaysia in Q4 2024

The newly-formed Leapmotor International is a joint venture between Leapmotor and Stellantis, set to arrive in Europe in September and Malaysia in Q4 this year.

Multinational automotive conglomerate Stellantis has renewed its joint venture (JV) with Chinese EV marque Leapmotor in establishing Leapmotor International. This renewed JV follows the previous acquisition by Stellantis for 21% equity in Leapmotor, which was said to be worth around €1.5 billion (about RM7.6 billion).

With the aim of expanding Leapmotor’s venture across the globe, Leapmotor International will be in charge of the exports and sales of Leapmotor vehicles outside of China. Through this partnership, Leapmotor is looking to leverage on Stellantis’ “established global commercial presence to significantly accelerate Leapmotor brand sales in other regions.”

Leapmotor EVs will be available on sale in selected European markets from September onwards.

As part of its global expansion plan, Leapmotor International is set to begin its operations in selected European countries like France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and many more by September this year. The firm targets a total of 200 points of sales by the end of this year, with a further target of 500 locations set for 2026.

Besides the European market, Leapmotor will also make its Malaysian market entry alongside other new Stellantis brands later in Q4 this year.

Further expansions will also take place later in Q4 this year, which will include other key global regional markets like the Middle East, Africa, and South America, as well as Asia Pacific, where Malaysia will also be included on the list. This revelation aligns with our previous report on the new establishment of Stellantis Malaysia, as the firm expressed interest in bringing more brands into our market, including Citroen, Jeep, and now Leapmotor.

Leapmotor International's product map will see the automaker releasing at least six new models in selected international markets by 2027.

As for its product roadmap, Leapmotor is poised to introduce both the T03 supermini EV hatch and the C10 EV SUV. These two EVs will be followed by four more models from 2025 to 2027, which include two SUVs and hatchbacks. Although Leapmotor has yet to reveal the exact models for its product roadmap, all evidence points towards both the C11 and C16 SUVs.

Leapmotor T03 EV Supermini Hatch (top) & Leapmotor C10 EV SUV (bottom)

Positioned as the marque’s entry-level EV model, the Leapmotor T03 is an A-segment hatchback designed for urban commutes, featuring a maximum WLTP range of 265 KM. Meanwhile, the C10 is a midsize EV SUV that is poised to go against the likes of the Tesla Model Y. Underpinning the marque’s dedicated Leap 3.0 EV architecture, the C10 boasts a decent WLTP range of 420 KM.

With Leapmotor poised to make its inaugural Malaysian debut at the upcoming Malaysia Autoshow 2024, there’s a chance that we might get to see both the T03 and C10 EVs up close during the motor show. With that being said, which one of these Leapmotor EVs are you looking forward to the most? As always, don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments down below…