TURIN – The models of Chinese Leapmotor they will arrive in Italy and eight other European markets in September. Cars that will be marketed by the joint venture created with the Stellantis group, Leapmotor International. The official announcement arrived today, from the heads of the two groups: “We have completed the closing of the agreement defined with Leapmotor, now we accelerate with the start of the car export phase outside China”, he said from Hangzhou the CEO of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares. The first agreement was defined in October, after seven months we move on to the operational phase. Exports will start in September 2024 from nine countries, including Italy, Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal, counting on a network of 200 dealers which they will then become 500. The first models to be launched will be the compact T03 and the C10 SUV first in the European markets, then expanding sales also in India and Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and South America in the fourth quarter of 2024. North America is not currently planned. “We are ready to compete” and “I don’t think protectionism is the solution,” says Tavares compared to the increase in tariffs by the USA on Chinese products. “We compete with Chinese brands and in the best way possible because it is the best way to progress,” she adds.
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Model approval operations are underway in recent weeks. In the diffusion of electric models “the accessibility of price lists is the main problem” but thanks to the partnership with Leapmotor “we can accelerate in bringing convenient electric vehicles to the market”, underlines the CEO of Stellantis, a group whose first Exor shareholder which also checks Republic.
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“We want this partnership to be a success and our mission is to market and produce Leapmotor vehicles outside China” while being able to offer “‘best in class’ technology”, continued the CEO. With this development, for Tavares “Stellantis is enriched with further electrical models to accelerate the implementation of the strategic plan Dare Forward 2030: we are committed to be carbon neutral by 2038 and with the contribution of Leapmotor we make this commitment more solid”. An evaluation is also planned for the production of models in factories in the European Union for the market outside China. Tavares himself says this, but for now he does not indicate the possible Countries. “We assume that either we are able to export through Leapmotor International or, if we cannot export directly, we can use Stellantis’ production facilities in various regions,” says Tavares.
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At his side, Zhu Jiangming, founder and CEO of Leapmotor. “We are creating ‘bubbles’ in each region and market where we will bring Leapomotor vehicles, then we will make country-by-country evaluations. The important thing is to underline that we are able to face any type of scenario and we will regulate ourselves flexibly in each region, making different decisions depending on the various countries and the needs of each market”, said Tavares also in relation to possible duties that will be introduced. The target? “Proceed pragmatically”,
