Stellantis in Advanced EV Development Talks with China's Leapmotor

-Sashindra Suresh

Stellantis is in advanced EV development talks with Leapmotor to build an Opel-branded electric SUV using Chinese technology. The Silicon Review reports on the deal that could reshape European EV manufacturing.

Stellantis is in advanced EV development talks with Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor to jointly build an Opel-branded electric SUV, three sources told Reuters on Wednesday. The deal would see the vehicle use Leapmotor's technology and be produced at Stellantis' Zaragoza plant in Spain, significantly cutting development time and costs for the French-Italian automaker.

The new model would share a common architecture with Leapmotor's B10 compact SUV, which will also be assembled later this year at the Zaragoza plant for the European market. Production of the Opel EV is expected to start in 2028 with a targeted annual output of 50,000 vehicles. Under the terms being discussed, Leapmotor would supply key technologies and components including electronic and electrical parts, while Opel would design the exterior. A significant portion of the vehicle's development would take place in China.

Talks over the Opel project, codenamed O3U, began in late 2025 and an agreement could be reached as early as this month. Stellantis formed a partnership with Leapmotor after acquiring around a fifth of the Chinese company in 2023. They also have a joint venture, Leapmotor International that handles sales and production of Leapmotor cars outside China.

The advanced EV development talks come as Stellantis shifts focus to petrol-electric hybrid cars after announcing a $25 billion writedown related to scaling back its pure EV plans earlier this year. The automaker is seeking to fend off competition from BYD and other Chinese brands in Europe while improving utilization rates at its European plants.

The potential Opel EV is only the most advanced of several ongoing discussions between the two automakers. They have also held talks on additional models developed on Leapmotor's architecture for smaller A-segment cars.

As Stellantis enters advanced EV development talks with China's Leapmotor to build an Opel electric SUV, The Silicon Review examines how this partnership could reshape European manufacturing and whether Western automakers can afford to ignore Chinese EV technology as they race to catch up in the electric future.

 About the Author

Sashindra Suresh is an experienced writer specializing in artificial intelligence, software development, and emerging technologies. With a strong ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, engaging insights, she has contributed to a wide range of publications and platforms. Her work focuses on making cutting-edge innovations accessible to both industry professionals and curious readers alike.