The China is scary to the Western automotive world, but it also represents great opportunities. Not just commercial ones. In fact, the People’s Republic has churned out and continues to churn out brands of all types, ready to have their say in a market undergoing one of the biggest revolutions in its history.
It is therefore not surprising that Stellantis in 2023 has decided to invest 1.5 billion euros in Leap motoramong the most appreciated Chinese startups of recent times. This is how the joint venture Leapmotor Internationalwhich holds the exclusive rights to export, sell and manufacture Leapmotor products outside the Chinese region. But not only that: with the entry into the shareholding of the oriental brand, the Group led by Carlos Tavares secures fundamental technologies to face the challenges of tomorrow.
Leapmotor: What it does
Let’s start getting familiar with the termine NEVacronym for New energy vehicle, new energy vehicles. Electric of course, but not necessarily alone. The NEV world is in fact a rich and varied one that includes electric carsplug-in hybrids (or rather extended-range electrics via range extender) and hydrogen. Powertrains that therefore do not favour a single technology, leaving numerous doors open.
Leapmotor has based its credo on NEVs: in 2022 it sold 111,000 of them in China, becoming the first specialized producer in the market of the People’s Republic. A result achieved in just 8 years of life.
Leapmotor C10 at the 2023 Monaco Motor Show
Se the electric it therefore remains at the centre around which various solutions gravitate, especially that of the range extenderthat is, using small thermal engines not coupled to the wheels, but intended to recharge the batteries to increase autonomy. Powertrains also adopted by other manufacturers (for example Mazda with the MX-30) based on the proprietary platform called 3.0, debuted at the 2023 Monaco Motor Show by Leap motor C10SUVs capable of mounting only electric motors or EREV (Extended-Range Electric Vehicles) systems.
Right here is one of the great advantages for Stellantis: to be in the position of being able to exploit a mechanic that has already been tested, ready to give life to two other versatile and scalable platforms. Because if on the one hand with the STLA family (the medium has just debuted on the new Peugeot 3008) the Group born from the merger of PSA and FCA has in-house the basis for the development of numerous models – even low cost thanks to a dedicated mechanics used for the new Citroen C3 and the Fiat Grande Panda– on the other hand why not take advantage of ready-made technologies whose costs can be shared? “The electric transition will be a huge battle, and we want to fight it in the best conditions, and this operation goes in that direction” commented Carlos Tavares.
Hardware e software
Leapmotor, however, was not born as a brand specialized in cars. Since its foundation in 2015, the Chinese startup has in fact focused on artificial intelligence, another big theme for the future of mobility. And the Achilles heel for many manufacturers around the world. The focus of the development of new models is in fact shifting – and by a lot – about the software and traditional manufacturers are not always successful in developing new systems.
We are not just talking about infotainment, but about complex programs for the Powertrain Managementadvanced driving assistants and much more. Leapmotor has always worked on this (even if it is an “always” that has lasted only 8 years) and also thanks to agreements with Nvidia and Qualcomm has acquired highly relevant skills and knowledge. Which can only be useful to a giant like Stellantis.
Carlos Tavares, CEO Stellantis CEO and Zhu Jiangming, founder and CEO of Leapmotor
Market Opportunity
Last but not least is the question regarding sales and openings to new markets. “Stellantis cannot be absent from the world’s leading market in the medium term, but we are approaching that market in an unconventional way. Leapmotor will be one of the most successful companies in the future, and will bring profitable growth,” Tavares explained in 2023 on the occasion of the signing with Leapmotor.
Il Chinese market cannot be left aside and after the closure of the partnership with Gac and the downsizing of the one with Dongfeng, Stellantis needed a new partner in the eastern giant.
Of course the benefits are also for the European market: while many Chinese brands are organizing to open factories in Europe, in order to avoid duties, Leapmotor already has a foot in the Old Continent thanks to Stellantis. The T03 is in fact assembled in the Polish plant in Tychy (former home of the Fiat 500), thus effectively being a European model that will not have to deal with the increasingly probable extra taxation.
The Leapmotor range at the 2023 Monaco Motor Show
Leapmotor models
At the center of everything, however, remain the cars, with a range that in China counts on five models, two of which have just landed in Europe, ready for marketing. These are the Leapmotor T03 and C10, a city car and a medium SUV, available only with electric powertrains.
Leap engine T03
The smallest car from the Chinese manufacturer – it is 3.62 metres long – represents the digital face of the Fiat Panda (with which it shares nothing), compared to which it is shorter by just 6 centimetres. A model for the city with rounded and regular shapes that does not fail to right amount of technology. Digital instruments, a 10.1″ central monitor and Level 2 driving assistance systems are part of the standard equipment.
Leap motor
Leap motor
Leapmotor T03, the interior
The Leapmotor T03’s powertrain consists of a 95 hp front electric motor and a 37.3 kWh lithium-ion battery, for a range of 265 km according to the WLTP cycle and 395 if driven exclusively on urban roads.
Interesting price: the Leapmotor T03 costs 18,900 euros, 17,900 with the launch offer. Price list that will not be shaken by duties: as mentioned, the versions for Europe are assembled in the Stellantis plant in Tychy (Poland), where the Fiat 500 was produced.
Leap motor C10
And Medium SUV (4.73 meters long) inserted in the segment of smart #5, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y, just to stay on electric models. The Leapmotor C10 represents the flagship of the Chinese company for Europe, characterized by sinuous shapes and the presence of the front lidar placed on the top of the roof.
Leap motor
Leap motor
Leapmotor C10, the interior
The External dimensions allow for interiors with good space, even if the trunk does not have record values: from 435 to 1,410 liters. Naturally, there is no lack of technology, with 10.25″ digital instrumentation and a 14.6″ central monitor. The suite of Level 2 driving assistance systems is also rich.
The Leap motor C10 is available in Europe with only one electric powertrain which includes a 218 hp rear engine and 69.9 kWh battery pack, for a range of 420 km according to the WLTP cycle.
Prices for the Leapmotor C10 start at 36,400 euros.
Leapmotor, the video of the debut at the 2023 Monaco Motor Show
Source: it.motor1.com
