Stellantis to help Leapmotor conquer European EV market with cheap EVs

The Stellantis-Leapmotor joint enterprise, which is 51% owned by the American corporation, has unveiled its strategy for expansion in Europe. The company plans to open 200 dealerships in nine countries on the Old Continent before the end of the year and start selling a sub-€20,000 electric car through them.

It’s called the Leapmotor T03 and is marketed as Europe’s cheapest EV in its class. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares emphasizes that the goal is to occupy the market niche before competitors do. Europe is still in sore need for low-end electric vehicles, and what little it is getting in this price segment aren’t real cars (they are classified as quadricycles – the Citroen Ami is an example).

The T03 is a subcompact five-door hatchback that’s just 3.6 meters (11.8 feet) long, but it still has two seat rows and a trunk with 210 liters (7.42 cu. ft.) of volume. Its sole electric motor drives its front axle with 107 PS (106 hp / 79 kW), letting it hit 50 km/h (31 mph) in four seconds or so. The CLTC-rated driving range amounts to 403 km (250 miles). In China, this car is available from 49,900 Yuan (€6,400).

Leapmotor says Germany, Italia, France, Spain and the Netherlands as the primary destinations for the T03. Moving forward, the company plans to launch a mid-size SUV called the C10 in Europe. It will make 228 PS (225 hp / 168 kW) and cover up to 530 km (329 miles) on a charge. The joint company also plans to expand its dealership network to 500 outlets in Europe, along with branching out to India, Middle East and South America.