Leapmotor has taken a significant step in its European expansion by starting local production of its B10 electric SUV at a factory in Zaragoza, Spain, and opening a dedicated battery plant nearby. The move, announced during the Paris Motor Show, marks the Chinese automaker's first overseas vehicle and battery manufacturing footprint, according to NetEase Auto.
The Zaragoza facility, which has over 43 years of automotive history and an annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles, was previously operated by Stellantis. Leapmotor adapted the existing body, paint, and assembly workshops rather than building from scratch, while constructing a new battery plant in the nearby town of Malian. The battery facility, which took less than 10 months to complete, will initially supply 68.7 kWh and 60.8 kWh battery packs for the B10, with an annual output starting at 60,000 units and scalable to 100,000, with plans to expand to 200,000 in a second phase.
Leapmotor founder Zhu Jiangming said the first-phase localization rate exceeds 40% and is expected to rise as more components are sourced locally. The company is leveraging Stellantis's manufacturing expertise, supply chain, and distribution network, while retaining control over core battery technology and keeping key R&D data in China.
From exporting cars to exporting a system
The dual-factory setup reflects Leapmotor's strategy to move beyond simply shipping vehicles to Europe. The company says it controls 65% of its vehicle costs, operates 18 component plants, and has a platform commonality rate of 90%. These capabilities helped Leapmotor achieve monthly sales of over 100,000 units in China for three consecutive months, making it the fourth-largest global NEV brand.
Leapmotor's partnership with Stellantis has deepened since 2024, moving from joint calibration to co-manufacturing and co-development. The two companies plan to jointly develop an Opel C-segment pure electric SUV based on Leapmotor's platform. Stellantis's willingness to open its global manufacturing and supply chain is seen as a vote of confidence in Chinese EV technology, the report notes.
Higher prices abroad, but still 'good and affordable'
Leapmotor's vehicles are priced roughly double in Europe compared to China, a gap the company attributes to tariffs, logistics, and localization costs, as well as growing brand recognition. The company insists its 'good and affordable' positioning is not about absolute low prices but about offering better value within a segment.
Leapmotor has established 1,020 retail outlets across 36 European countries, with an average 22-minute drive to the nearest store. In France, it operates 157 sales and service points, and spare parts availability covers 98% of needs. From January to September 2026, Leapmotor exported over 150,000 vehicles, exceeding its annual target, with cumulative global deliveries surpassing 1.8 million units.
