Stellantis announces entry of Leapmotor EV brand in India

Stellantis has officially announced the entry of Leapmotor in India, thereby confirming what Autocar India had exclusively reported in February 2024. The Chinese EV startup will be Stellantis’ fourth brand in India after Citroen, Jeep and Maserati.

1. Expected to begin with assembly of CKD kits, followed by greater localisation  
2. A clear launch timeline has still not been announced

Carlos Tavares, the then global CEO of Stellantis, had said that the company intended to bring Leapmotor to India by Q4 of 2024, but that clearly has been delayed. There’s still no confirmation on the actual timeline.

Leapmotor will be brought to India as Leapmotor International – a Stellantis-led 51:49 joint venture with exclusive rights for exporting, selling and manufacturing Leapmotor products outside China.

What will be Leapmotor’s offerings in India?

A hatchback and a midsize SUV

The T03 hatchback will be positioned as a Tiago EV rival.

Stellantis hasn’t announced a product line-up yet, but sources say Leapmotor will commence its India innings with the T03 hatchback, which will be positioned as a Tata Tiago EV rival. The brand will also introduce a 5-seat SUV, the C10, to take on the likes of the Hyundai Creta Electric, MG Windsor and the upcoming Maruti e Vitara. Stellantis plans to bring 6 Leapmotor EVs to India by 2027.

Leapmotor likely to begin with CKD assembly

Local manufacturing depends on a proper business case

Stellantis had been studying the possibility of importing Leapmotor EVs as completely knocked down (CKD) units and assembling them at its factory in Ranjangaon before localising them. Still, it has to make a business case. However, the company hasn’t given a clearer picture of its CKD or localisation operations yet.

Leapmotor is likely to operate through the existing dealer network of Stellantis India, which has had suboptimal volumes so far. The addition of another brand will increase showroom footfalls – something that these dealerships desperately need.

Also on the cards is the C10 SUV, which will likely be assembled from CKD kits.

“We’re excited to announce the entry of Leapmotor brand in India. We look forward to bringing premium EVs to India’s upwardly mobile consumers,” said Shailesh Hazela, CEO and MD of Stellantis India.

Other upcoming EV brands in India

Vinfast and Tesla to join the ranks soon

The news of Leapmotor’s India entry comes just as Vietnamese EV brand Vinfast is gearing up to start operations in the country in the second half of 2025 with two locally assembled electric SUVs. Meanwhile, Tesla is at loggerheads with the Indian government over tariffs on imported EVs.  

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