Stellantis Enters into Joint Venture to Expand Reach of China-Built BEVs
Way back in 2022, Stellantis released its Dare Forward 2030 business strategy. It doesn’t seem like that long ago, but a handful of major players in the automotive group have kicked into high gear to bring more battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) to the Stellantis lineup and the auto market on an international level. With plans to release more than 75 new BEVs by 2030, it’s a large goal to achieve, and Stellantis is doing everything it can to become the next big seller of BEVs in the industry. The newest play to achieve this goal is a new joint venture with Leapmotor, a technology-driven intelligent EV company that’s been around for a little less than a decade (2015) to bring more China-built models to its growing collection.
Major Players
We don’t know much about the models the PSA Group brought to Stellantis when the auto group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) merged, but we do know Stellantis still has some strong key players making the most of the merger with new electrified and all-electric models. Since the dawn of the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid (a plug-in hybrid minivan) was released. Some could say this was the start of electrified models in the portfolio, but it took a long time for other automakers to catch up. It wasn’t until major player Jeep® stepped up to the plate with electrified versions of every model in its lineup, called 4xe models. We’ve seen the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, and the latest addition, the 2025 Jeep Gladiator 4xe.
More all-electric models are also on the horizon. Ram unveiled its Ram 1500 REV all-electric pickup truck and the 1500 Ramcharger. Dodge released its first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV0, the Dodge Hornet, followed by its first all-electric vehicle, the 2025 Dodge Daytona SRT BEV. Staying relevant, Jeep is electrifying its luxury Wagoneer, called the Wagoneer S, instead of releasing an electrified version of the other models in its lineup, and Chrysler finally announced a new BEV concept, the new Chrysler Halcyon.
So, what’s this about bringing China-built models from Leapmotor to the U.S.?
Stellantis and Leapmotor
It sounds a little fishy, doesn’t it? The new joint venture with Leapmotor will begin to expand sales of China-made BEVs outside of the country by expanding its reach to dealers in Europe — France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Greece and Romania. By the end of 2024, other markets will be added, including the Middle East and Africa, India and Asia Pacific, and South America. There is no word on whether or not the joint venture will expand to North America, but it’s unlikely. Out of the 75 new BEVs Stellantis wants to release, only 25 of those are heading to North America. This new move to expand the reach of China-built BEVs probably isn’t a part of that number. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares claims it’s due to new American tariffs on China-made EVs, but he’s also been known to whine about BEVs, claiming the automotive group was “forced into making BEVs”, versus calling it a progressive step to match the changing auto industry.
“There is very limited Chinese offering in the U.S. market, so it is not a priority for us…There is a lot in Europe because we see Europe has a very different approach to this problem…with me or without me, Leapmotor would have been in Europe anyway…what I am doing is just trying to be opportunistic against a dynamic that has been created by the Chinese carmakers.” – Tavares
Whatever helps you sleep at night, buddy.
What do you think about Stellantis getting involved with China-built BEVs to expand its portfolio on an international scale – just not in the U.S.? Join the discussion on Aventura Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram social media.