Stellantis Will Bring Leapmotor EV Brand In India, Expected To Launch T03 Hatchback & C10 SUV
Stellantis has announced its intentions to launch the Leapmotor EV brand in India. This move is happening due to the country’s increasing EV market. The launch of the Leapmotor EV brand will also mean Stellantis group’s fourth entry after Jeep, Citroen, and Maserati.
The company intended to bring Leapmotor, initially in Q4 of 2024. However, the fact that it hasn’t materialized highlights the delays and even at this point, no timelines are mentioned. Leapmotor will come to India as a 51:49 joint venture with Stellantis, with exclusive rights for selling, exporting and manufacturing the products outside China.
Potential Lineup
Stellantis hasn’t announced a product lineup but it is safe to assume that they will bring the T03 hatchback and the C10 SUV. The T03 hatchback will be positioned around the Tiago EV. Whereas, the C10 SUV will be competing with the Maruti e-Vitara and Hyundai Creta Electric. According to Stellantis, Leapmotor will launch 6 EVs by 2027.
Localised Production?
The Leapmotor EV brand is expected to begin operations by bringing CKD (completely knocked down) units and assembling them at the factory in Ranjangaon, Maharashtra. The company has yet to give an idea about the operations and localization efforts as a whole.
It will be easier for Leapmotor to use the existing dealerships owned by the Stellantis group including Jeep, Citroen and Maserati. Adding the fourth brand to the dealerships will help to boost the volume numbers as well. It is important to note that the group is currently struggling with sub-optimal volumes.
Outlook
The toughest challenge Leapmotor may face is from the Vietnamese EV brand, VinFast. Both companies are aiming to start local operations around the same time in the second half of 2025. Meanwhile, Tesla which was once the EV pioneers seem to reach only the negotiation stage with the Indian government over tariffs and imported cars.
