Stellantis’ recent moves in the automotive industry have raised eyebrows and sparked speculation. Last October, the Euro-American corporation made waves by acquiring a 21 percent stake in Chinese automaker Leapmotor for a hefty $1.5 billion. Now, Stellantis has hinted at the possibility of producing Leapmotor’s electric vehicles (EVs) at Fiat’s historic Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy.
According to Automotive News Europe, if this plan materializes, the Mirafiori plant could potentially churn out up to 150,000 budget EVs annually starting in 2026 or 2027. These vehicles would be sold through Stellantis dealerships in Europe, circumventing potential tariffs on Chinese EV imports, which are currently under scrutiny by the European Commission for potential unfair advantages due to government subsidies.
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares expressed openness to the idea, stating, “If we have the opportunity because it makes economic sense to manufacture Leapmotor’s cars in Italy, of course we will do.” Last year’s investment led to the establishment of a joint venture called Leapmotor International, based in the Netherlands and controlled by Stellantis. The venture aims to achieve 500,000 sales outside of China by the end of the decade, while also strengthening Stellantis’ Western brands’ presence in the Chinese market.
Mirafiori, Europe’s oldest car factory dating back to the late 1930s, is currently underutilized, producing only the Maserati Levante, which is slated to be discontinued, and the electric Fiat 500, totaling around 95,000 units. However, in its prime in the latter half of the 20th century, Mirafiori produced millions of Fiat models, including iconic names like the Topolino, 500, 600, 124, 127, 131, Panda, Uno, and Punto.
Before the Leapmotor deal was unveiled, Stellantis had already announced plans in the summer of 2023 to invest up to âŹ200 million ($215 million) in the Mirafiori plant. This investment, scheduled for completion by 2025, is part of a broader plan to transform Stellantis’ key facilities into carbon-neutral bases for the group’s design, research and development, and central functions, as reported by Reuters.
While Stellantis and Leapmotor are not yet ready to commence joint production in Europe, they plan to bridge the gap by importing vehicles from China. The first model expected to arrive is the C10 SUV, similar in size to the Tesla Model Y, which has been recently launched in Asia with both electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain options. The all-electric version boasts a single 228 hp (231 PS) motor on the rear axle and claims an impressive 329 miles (530 km) of range.
