Leapmotor, the Chinese electric-car maker backed by Stellantis, has begun pre-production of its B10 compact battery-electric SUV at Stellantis' factory in Zaragoza, Spain, according to Chinese outlet D1EV. The move is designed to give the vehicle enough local content to be classified as European-made, thereby sidestepping the European Union's tariffs on EVs imported from China.
The B10, which will be built alongside Stellantis models such as the Lancia Ypsilon, Opel/Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208, marks Leapmotor's first European assembly. Local production is a key part of the company's strategy to grow in the region while avoiding the import duties that have hit Chinese rivals.
B03X targets Europe's small-SUV segment
Leapmotor has also introduced the B03X, a small electric SUV aimed at the European market. The model is priced several thousand euros below established competitors like the Ford Puma, and sits in the same price bracket as the Renault Twingo, one of Europe's cheapest EVs. In Italy, Leapmotor is offering a 5,000-euro incentive, bringing the B03X price down to 19,900 euros, close to the Twingo's Italian starting price of 19,500 euros.
The B03X launch underscores Leapmotor's push into the value end of Europe's EV market, where affordability is increasingly critical as sales growth slows.
Broader context: Chinese brands expand in Europe
Leapmotor's local production comes as other Chinese automakers adjust to European trade barriers. BYD's Europe special adviser, Alfredo Altavilla, said on September 16 that the company would eventually need three vehicle assembly plants and one battery factory in Europe to meet growth targets and comply with EU regulations. BYD is starting production at its first European plant in Hungary and plans to choose a second site by year-end, favoring the acquisition and renovation of existing facilities, with Spain and France as priority options.
European EV sales have been stronger than expected, with battery-electric vehicles reaching a 30.5% market share in August across 16 core markets, according to data from the European Electric Mobility Association, New Automotive and Fier Automotive cited by D1EV. Registrations of BEVs (battery-electric vehicles) rose 54.2% year on year to 202,833 units in August, and cumulative registrations for the first eight months exceeded 1.67 million, up 33.1% from the same period in 2025.
The tariff issue is also prompting other moves. Nissan executive Massimiliano Messina said that if Britain wants equal treatment under EU rules of origin, it may need to impose trade tariffs on Chinese cars to prevent a flood of Chinese vehicles from entering the EU via the UK. Chinese brands already account for about one-fifth of UK car sales, he noted.
