Stellantis and Leapmotor are deepening their collaboration far beyond distribution. Discussions between Danilo Annese, Florian Huettl, Antonio Filosa, and Alain Favey in Paris reveal how tightly production, technology, and development are now interlinked within the group - and where the boundaries still lie.

There are partnerships that mostly look impressive on paper. And then there are those where, at some point, it is no longer entirely clear where one partner ends and the other begins. Stellantis and Leapmotor are increasingly moving in the latter direction.

What began as an investment and international distribution cooperation has since extended deep into production and development. Leapmotor is manufacturing the B10 at the Stellantis plant in Zaragoza, Spain. The Stellantis brand Opel is developing its own electric SUV with the Chinese partner for 2028. And behind the scenes, both sides have long been discussing further technical collaboration.

This shift is particularly evident at the Paris Motor Show. Leapmotor is presenting the B03, another electric vehicle, in Europe for the first time and simultaneously announcing that production of the B10 in Spain has officially begun. A few halls away, Opel is showcasing its vision of an electric estate car with the STX Concept, while Peugeot is putting its own electric concept studies in the spotlight. On the surface, the brands remain clearly distinct. Technically, at least for Opel, the boundaries are becoming significantly more permeable.

Since the unveiling of the FaSTLAne 2030 strategy in May , Stellantis has been pursuing two goals simultaneously: greater efficiency through shared platforms and technologies, while also reinforcing the distinct identities of its brands.

Source link