Leapmotor’s range-extender (REx) electric vehicle technology could be adopted by other Stellantis brands in Europe as the automotive group looks to deepen technology sharing and improve flexibility in its electrification strategy, the Chinese automaker’s international chief said.
The Stellantis-backed brand currently offers its B10 and C10 SUVs with either fully electric powertrains or a range-extender setup, in which a small petrol engine acts as a generator to recharge the battery while driving. Leapmotor says the system enables the C10 Hybrid EV to travel up to 590 miles (950 km) on a combined full battery and fuel tank, with official emissions of 10 grams of CO₂ per kilometre.
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“Range-extender is a good technology, and, yes, we’re also exploring the possibilities to use it in the other portfolios,” Tianshu Xin, international chief executive of Leapmotor, told Autocar.
With Mazda having discontinued the MX-30 R-EV, Leapmotor is currently the only brand offering a range-extender option on an EV in Europe. Xin said the technology could potentially be applied across Stellantis’ European marques, including Vauxhall-Opel, Citroën, Peugeot, DS Automobiles and Fiat, though he did not identify specific models.
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Xin said Leapmotor and Stellantis are evaluating ways to share technologies across portfolios that are currently separate, adding that REx systems could serve as an interim solution as Europe’s EV transition progresses more slowly than expected and charging infrastructure continues to expand.
“There’s a high level of commonality between Stellantis EV platforms,” Xin said, referring to architectures such as the CMP, STLA Medium and Smart Car platforms, suggesting that once integrated, the technology could be deployed across multiple models with limited additional development.
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The technology-sharing push aligns with Stellantis’ decision to take a 51% stake in Leapmotor’s international operations. “That’s one part of the rationale we had when we did the deal between Stellantis and Leapmotor: finding synergies by using each other’s technology,” Xin said.
He added that Leapmotor is also open to using Stellantis platforms for future European-market models. The B10 is set to enter production in Spain later this year alongside models such as the Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208, a move Xin said would help tailor Leapmotor products to local market needs. The company is also exploring joint purchasing opportunities, citing Leapmotor’s high level of vertical integration in components.
