Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor has started producing EVs in Spain with global carmaker Stellantis. The move secures a local production base by using an existing plant operated by a European automaker, marking a new phase for Chinese EVs entering the European market.

InsideEVs reported on Oct. 20 that Stellantis and Leapmotor officially began production of the B10 electric crossover SUV on Oct. 16 at a plant in Zaragoza, Spain. The Zaragoza plant produces models including the Opel Corsa, Peugeot 208 and Lancia Ypsilon. Stellantis said it chose the site after considering existing production capacity, manufacturing expertise and quality standards.

The next model to be produced will be the B05 electric hatchback. Leapmotor on Oct. 19 officially announced plans to produce the B05 in Zaragoza. It did not disclose a specific schedule, but local media forecast production in the first quarter of 2027.

This is not Leapmotor's first attempt at European production. From 2024, it assembled the T03 mini EV at a plant in Tychy, Poland, using semi-knocked-down kits from China. That project was halted in March 2025.

Stellantis holds a 51 percent stake in Leapmotor International, a joint venture it set up with Leapmotor. It has secured the right to produce and sell Leapmotor vehicles outside China through the venture.

Competition among Chinese automakers to localise production in Europe is also intensifying. BYD is building its own plant in Hungary, and Xpeng has signed a contract manufacturing deal with Magna in Austria. Chery is also cooperating with Spain's Ebro to use Nissan's former Barcelona plant.

The moves are seen as a strategy to reduce logistics burdens by securing production facilities in Europe and to respond to additional tariffs imposed on Chinese-made EVs.

Stellantis in particular has chosen to compete with Chinese brands while also producing their vehicles. The analysis is that cooperation between European automakers and Chinese EV companies is becoming more complex.