[TusharK]

According to a media report, Stellantis is evaluating the possibility of introducing Chinese EV brand Leapmotor in India.



Stellantis, which has a 20% stake in Leapmotor, is leading the brand’s internationalization strategy. As part of this, the company is said to have launched a feasibility study to look into the possibility of CKD assembly.

Leapmotor EVs could be assembled at the Ranjangaon plant near Pune and may be sold via the company’s existing dealer network. Depending on the commercial feasibility of the project, Stellantis may even localize Leapmotor EVs. India might also emerge as a potential manufacturing base in the future.

Reports suggest that Leapmotor could offer a wide range of products, including small electric hatchbacks to SUVs in the sub-Rs 10 lakh to Rs 40 lakh price points. It is said that Leapmotor EVs could compete with models like the Tiago.ev, Nexon.ev and Maruti eVX in the Indian market.

Source: Autocar India

Link to Team-BHP news

[Quicksilver85]

I sincerely hope this doesn't happen.
Stellantis India: Please keep your focus on 1 or 2 brands at maximum. You have enough on your plate already. Eat it first.
Think how can you increase your market share with Jeep & Citroen brands. You could introduce a sub-compass model to improve it, bring down the price of Compass by doing localization or rationalization or whatever you want to call it. DO IT FIRST, you will sell more Compasses. Bring down service/spares costs coz that is what is resulting in less customers to purchase Jeeps as they seem to be afraid of ownership costs.

Now, with Citroen, take a leaf out of Kia's success. You dont have to go the barebones route to sell more products, you have to go premium and the prospective customer has to see "value" for what he pays. It need not be cheap. If that was what you presumed was Indian mentality, then you are wrong. By that logic, Tata Nano should have been a hit and not a flop. People dont want to be seen in a vehicle which their peers would feel cheap, rather they want to be seen in a vehicle which peers envy.

[ads11]

Is the car in the photo based off the Fiat 500 because I'm getting strong vibes of it, possibly with some Smart ForFour thrown in.

That size of EV though seems ideal for a small city roundabout, admittedly for those who have the spare income for it to be the secondary car. Might be a decent sized market for it if under 10L.

If Stellantis did bring this brand to market, couldn't they rebadge the cars under one of the existing brand names?

[desdemona]

They should do this.

Not just for any incremental turnover in India as the slow bev (and Hybrid) transition begins in earnest in Indian passenger vehicles (in a few years' time)-- but especially for India more as component andor full vehicle re/export base for Stellantis LeapMotor jv localized manufacture in Europe and especially North America.

The idea is to get behind antiChinaEV tariff walls, bans etc, actual or potential, especially in N America.

Stellantis will surely deploy Leap Motors' 30% bev cost competitiveness advantage for the otherwise-unprofitable mass market ev transition (mandated by regulations) in especially the usa.

Sourcing from India based on LeapMotor vertically integrated IP of battery-to-chassis, IT software, motors, etc is a VERY good approach over next 3-5 +years....as the electrification mandates in the EU and Usa really bite on costs/profitability.

Elon Musk is already demanding high tariff wall for Tesla s into N America as BYD and say potentially Stellantis/LeapMotor setup and surge in Mexico already with an eye on exports into USA from within NAFTA v2.0.

This is a longterm strategic move (India as bev component re/export base) that is low cost, low risk as electrification mandates bite everywhere (esp in the EU, UK and Usa+Canada.)

They can in the future also rework Leap Motor bev cuv s and sedans into some mass market, affordable Jeeps, Citroens, Fiat s, Chryslers, Dodge s etc: not just in India or say Australia, ASEAN but even for usa and eu market segments.

Ceo Carlos Tavares has recently explained this approach explicitly: LeapMotor s as Stellantis' 15th brand (i.e., nevermind that it is stigmatized as 'Chinese'.)

[PreludeSH]

Unless India follows EU in putting specific barriers, we are going to be swept away with Chinese EVs. I am not saying we should. We might even force them to have production of the complete BOM localized in India and still gain on job front. The quality of most EVs are going to be top notch and people will buy them wherever they are from.

Indian brands will be the biggest losers since these EVs will have their presence across multiple segments.

[desdemona]

Well, Tata Motors is well positioned so far, and even these potential and very strategic Stellantis-LeapMotor s (plus associated IP, it tech and supply chain etc) will, IF at all, be based out of the Tata-Fiat jv plant in Ranjangaon.

Leap Motor models are more at BYD Atto3, Tesla Model3 etc level in price, quality of engineering, etc. Well above the current Nexon ev level i believe.
I.e., ideal for the NEXT, more expensive and ....risky (also for Maruti/Toyota) electrification round by Tata Motors.

Leap Motors models are also available as more-affordable range extender/on board generator serial hybrids, and so: ideal in terms of cost, price, profitability for a post-diesel but not-full-EV India market.

The MG motors-JSW prospective business model, in other words. As electrification proceeds the Maruti and Hyundai-Kia oligopoly may weaken through: competition on cost (and margins! ;-))

[shortbread]

Originally Posted by PreludeSH

Unless India follows EU in putting specific barriers, we are going to be swept away with Chinese EVs.

This will happen and Stellantis will find out the hard way.

[volkman10]

China's Leapmotor set to enter India with EVs.

Chinese EV maker Leapmotor, backed by Stellantis, plans India entry amid strict regulations, joining MG and BYD in the market.

Stellantis, a major player in the global automotive industry with brands like Citroen, Jeep, and Fiat, is present in India through Jeep and Citroen. The partnership with Stellantis has bolstered Leapmotor's confidence in venture into India, despite stringent regulations governing investments from countries sharing a border with India.

BYD faced challenges in expanding its operations in India due to approval issues from the government, while MG Motor had to involve an Indian partner, Sajjan Jindal's JSW, to comply with regulations. Stellantis' investment of $1.6 billion in Leapmotor last year, acquiring around 20 percent stake, paved the way for a significant partnership.

While Stellantis has not commented on Leapmotor's potential entry into India, sources suggest that the move could see the launch of budget-friendly electric cars, intensifying competition in the green car segment. The announcement of Leapmotor's India plans in partnership with Stellantis is anticipated in the coming weeks, signalling a significant development in the Indian electric vehicle market.

Likely to launch the C10 EV:





Link:

[chiekennugget]

The car looks adorable but it reminds of a FIAT 500e with the headlights look similar.

[volkman10]

Leapmotor likely to introduce Tiago EV rival and SUV in India.

The company conducted a feasibility study this year and the decision has been made; the announcement could happen very shortly and the India entry is likely by year-end.

Leapmotor will commence its India innings with the T03 hatchback, which will be aimed at Tata’s Tiago EV. The brand would also introduce its five-seater SUV, the C10, to take on BYD’s Atto3, MG Motor’s ZS EV, the upcoming Creta EV and Maruti eVX, among other electric SUVs in that segment.

The new entrants, mainly from East and South East Asia—such as MG Motor (along with JSW Group), BYD, Leapmotor, and VinFast—will likely introduce many global models, widening the choice for prospective buyers.

The lower goods and services tax rate of 5% and the recently announced new electric vehicle policy have offered enough incentives for global players to come and invest in India. Still, it will be interesting to see how the government would treat the investments from Chinese carmakers and whether they would be allowed to participate in the new EV policy to import vehicles at a lower duty. There have been speculative reports of how VinFast and BYD may not be eligible for benefits.

Link:

[newenergy]

I think the deal with Leapmotor by Stellantis is a fantastic deal that may benefit Stellantis to a great degree. We all know by now that in the EV space, the Chinese are way ahead and any JV with ICE giant is only going to help in the transition. Traditionally the ICE OEMs are very slow to adopt EV technology but with JV, the technology adoption will be faster and Leapmotor can also utilize existing factories and slowly plan to start manufacturing locally. It's a win-win IMHO.

[Venkatesh]

Leapmotor International to start operations in Europe by September 2024 through 200 points of sales by the end of the year with plans to expand to India & Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and South America starting in the fourth quarter.

T03 and C10 models will launch first with at least one new model to be introduced every year in the next three years.

Press Release

[Livnletcarsliv]

I am not sure how this will turn out. With Citroen and Jeep dwindling in sales numbers and no new models in the immediate pipeline from both the brands (especially no models that are worthy to wait), I will 100% not even touch "leap motors" with a barge pole.

Bringing in more new brands like this will only dilute and damage the already not so good brand trust of Stellantis. Looks like even after 20 years, Stellantis is still not getting hold of the market.

[ToThePoint]

Classic Case of... Throw everything you got at the wall and see what sticks!!!

Wish they focussed on finding out what's wrong with current operations and why they are not selling as much as they want to.

[volkman10]

LeapMotor products to be marked by JEEP in India.


Source: AutoCar India