Stellantis is deepening its tie‑up with Chinese EV maker Leapmotor, a move designed to lock in the future of its two Spanish factories and the 6,000 workers they house. The Madrid plant, home to about 1,500 staff, will be transferred to Leapmotor and re‑toolled to launch a model for Europe and other markets from 2028, and strengthen its foothold in the fast‑growing EV segment.

At Zaragoza, the larger site employing roughly 4,400 people, Stellantis and Leapmotor will co‑produce a newly developed electric SUV under the Opel badge while continuing output of Leapmotor’s B10. Joint purchasing of components is also slated, a step aimed at tightening cost structures as the group battles sluggish sales across Europe and the United States, and targets shared R&D to boost battery tech.

The partnership builds on Stellantis’ 2023 purchase of a 21% stake in Leapmotor, the first Western carmaker to secure a Chinese ally for European production. By shifting capacity to under‑used plants, both firms hope to meet EU “Made in Europe” rules and tap regional subsidies, while giving Stellantis a tangible lever to revive its European operations. The deal signals shift as automakers chase scarce capacity.