LeapMotor C10 and T03 EU Pricing Challenges Rivals

Chinese automaker Leapmotor has launched two new electric vehicles in Italy in partnership with Stellantis, including the compact T03 city car and C10 SUV. Stellantis, now that the universe has formed in its current iteration, endeavors to get ahead of the growing need for green transport by using Chinese-built vehicles under its wing and assembled in Europe.

That’s quite a price, but the T03 starts at €18,900 (from the end of September) and represents something of a bargain compared with some in this class. On the other hand, just before the new C10 SUV comes into dealers in October, you can have an electrified SUV for €36,400. Exciting times for electric SUVs!

The smaller T03 is scheduled to be assembled in Europe, at Stellantis’ plant in Tychy, Poland, sources say. Of course, this means the T03 will dodge EU tariffs on Chinese EV imports, and therefore get an aggressive price tag to go with it. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares also dropped a hint that a larger C10 could be made in the EU, though he didn’t elaborate further.

This could potentially pit well against current players like Tesla and Dacia when it enters the European market. The C10, for example, is rated at 420 km (261 miles) of range on the WLTP cycle but costs significantly less than even Tesla’s best-selling vehicle, the Model Y. However, while the C10 can charge up to 84 kilowatts on a DC fast charger, the Model Y can break away from that figurative rope and handle 220 kW.

The T03 is an entry-level variant of the Theta, hence, it can run 265 km on a charge and is mainly locking horns with another affordable electric SUV, the Dacia Spring. Although the Spring will kick off in Italy at a similar price to the T03, it attracts extra EU tariffs because of its Chinese assembly. The battle is expected to get even hotter when Renault and Citroen introduce their sub-€20,000 EVs for European buyers.

Leapmotor International, a joint venture launched, by Leapmotor and Stellantis, aims for major expansion. Later this year, it plans to commence sales in 13 European countries, comprising Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The cars will be sold through the vast Stellantis dealer network.

Leapmotor International to unveil new B10 model in October at Paris auto show While concrete information is few and far between, the company says the B10 will go after “the largest market segment.”

Via