Leapmotor and Stellantis Explore Joint Development of Vehicle Platform

Xin Tianshu, head of Leapmotor International, stated that Leapmotor and Stellantis do not rule out the possibility of jointly developing an entirely new vehicle platform. Currently, Stellantis holds approximately a 20% stake in Leapmotor and controls 51% of Leapmotor International. Leapmotor International is responsible for introducing Leapmotor models to global markets, including the UK, with these vehicles sold through Stellantis’s dealer network—though they are technically unrelated to Stellantis’s own brands. The two companies have already initiated certain technical collaborations, with European engineers assisting Leapmotor in developing models tailored for international markets. Xin emphasized that the partnership aims to combine Leapmotor’s strengths in cost control and product innovation with Stellantis’s global infrastructure, including its dealer network, IT systems, and parts distribution network. Although both companies remain independent automakers with their own platforms, achieving synergy remains a strategic priority, potentially involving platform sharing and component interchangeability. Approximately 65% of Leapmotor’s components are self-manufactured, leaving room for Stellantis to adopt Leapmotor parts on its own platforms in the future. When asked whether the two sides might jointly develop a platform or even have Stellantis vehicles produced at Leapmotor factories, Xin did not rule out the possibility, noting that such ideas are currently under exploration.