Stellantis is considering expanding its joint venture with Leapmotor to gain access to the Chinese company’s battery and electric vehicle (EV) powertrain technologies – at least, that’s according to Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the plans. The partners aim to finalise an agreement later this year.
Leapmotor International, the joint venture, was established in 2023 when Stellantis acquired a 20% stake in Leapmotor. Stellantis holds 51% of the joint venture, while Leapmotor retains 49%. The venture is responsible for distributing and producing Leapmotor vehicles outside China, hence its name. Vehicle development, however, remains with Leapmotor in China, which also handles local distribution and production in its home market.
This means that the distribution of Leapmotor vehicles in Europe is managed through Stellantis’ structures, and preparations are underway for the European production of the Leapmotor B10 at a Stellantis plant in Spain. However, Stellantis does not currently have access to Leapmotor’s technology. The Chinese manufacturer’s latest models not only offer competitive price-performance ratios but also impressive features – the recently reviewed Leapmotor B10, for example, received praise in our test drive.
According to Bloomberg, discussions are now underway although the outcome remains uncertain. The negotiations are still in the early stages and could potentially collapse. Even if the two companies reach an agreement, regulatory hurdles would still need to be overcome, “including data protection concerns and US restrictions on connected vehicles with ties to China”.
If an agreement is reached, it would likely mark the first time a Western automaker has used technology from its Chinese partner to develop its own electric vehicles for the Western market. To date, such partnerships—such as the collaborations between VW and Xpeng or the Audi brand’s partnership with SAIC—have been limited primarily to the Chinese market.
It also remains unclear how the technology transfer might be structured. Stellantis could integrate individual components such as electric motors, batteries, and/or control units into its own platforms or develop its own vehicles based on Leapmotor platforms like the Leap 3.5. Reports in October 2025 suggested that Opel might offer a rebadged version of the Leapmotor B10 under its own brand in Europe, though this has yet to be confirmed. Whether this ‘badge engineering’ is part of the current negotiations was not mentioned in the report.
What is clear, however, is that Stellantis views Leapmotor’s battery and powertrain technology as more advanced than its own current platforms—and likely more cost-effective. For instance, the Leapmotor B10 we tested featured a 67.1 kWh LFP battery, a 360-degree camera, and heated and ventilated front seats—all for around €34,000. Even the base model, priced at €29,990 with a 56 kWh battery, is well-equipped. In comparison, the roughly equivalent Opel Frontera Electric (from €28,990) offers a 44 kWh battery, less range, and longer charging times. The ‘Extended’ version, with a 54 kWh battery, starts at €31,190—features like cooled seats are not available in the Opel, even as optional extras.