Just a few days after we told you why we thought Leapmotor was already.., Stellantis' fifth hidden mark, The official announcements of May 8, 2026 confirm that the Chinese automaker is playing an increasingly central role in the automotive group's strategy. And this time, it's not just a question of commercial cooperation or distribution: Stellantis is now preparing an in-depth industrial transformation of its European plants... to the direct benefit of Leapmotor.
The strongest symbol of this development is undoubtedly to be found in Spain. Stellantis is simply planning to transfer ownership of its Villaverde plant in Madrid to the Spanish subsidiary of Leapmotor International. A decision that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago for a group historically attached to its European manufacturing facilities.
Stellantis plant may come under Leapmotor control
In its official press release, Stellantis explains that it wants to “significantly strengthen the future of the Villaverde site”. Behind this diplomatic formula lies a far more important reality: the Madrid plant, currently known for producing the Citroën C4, could become a site directly linked to Leapmotor.
The group even specifies that “a possible transfer of ownership of the plant to LPMI's Spanish subsidiary is under consideration”. In other words, Leapmotor International, the joint venture owned 51 % by Stellantis and 49 % by Leapmotor, could regain control of the site to produce future models for Europe and the Middle East.
This announcement comes at a time when production of the Citroën C4 at Villaverde is scheduled to cease. Stellantis seems to have chosen its successor: Leapmotor. This move shows just how strategic the Chinese manufacturer is now considered to be in Europe. In less than three years, Leapmotor has gone from exotic partner to industrial player capable of occupying historic European plants.
Opel to use Chinese platform for future electric SUV
But the other major news concerns Opel. The German brand has confirmed that it is working on an all-new C-segment electric SUV, due in 2028, to be developed under the extended partnership with Leapmotor.
And this time, Stellantis is not hiding any more: the future Opel SUV will make direct use of key components from Leapmotor's latest electric architecture, as well as Chinese battery technology. Opel explains that this model will indeed be “designed and created” in Rüsselsheim, Germany, with in-house expertise in design, chassis, lighting and seating technologies. But the technological base will be largely derived from Leapmotor. In other words, the next Opel SUV will be German in appearance and development... but based largely on a Chinese platform.
The silent revolution
This project is a perfect illustration of the new direction taken by Stellantis under Antonio Filosa. The group now seems to favor a pragmatic approach: using Chinese technologies when they are faster and less costly to develop.
Thanks to this cooperation, Opel's future SUV will be developed in less than two years. This is an extremely short timeframe in the European automotive industry, where a new model often takes three to four years to develop. For Stellantis, the objective is clear: to drastically reduce costs and accelerate the launch of affordable electric vehicles. The group admits that it intends to use “highly competitive components from the Leapmotor ecosystem” to make this future Opel SUV more accessible to European customers.
After Villaverde, the Spanish industrial site of Zaragoza also becomes a key element in this transformation. Opel's historic plant, where over 10 million Corsas have been produced since 1982, is to house both the Leapmotor B10 and this future electric Opel SUV.
The symbolism is strong: an iconic Opel plant will simultaneously produce a Chinese model and an Opel SUV using Chinese technology. The German manufacturer even speaks of a “pioneering role” for Opel in this new global collaboration with Leapmotor. A way of gradually preparing minds for a reality that might have been difficult to accept just a few years ago. All these announcements further reinforce the idea that Leapmotor has become much more than just a partner. This Opel SUV is the pilot project, but you can be sure that other models from other brands, such as Fiat or Citröen, will be involved in the future.
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«Never forward, always backward.»
It would make a great baseline.
You buy a German badge, with a Chinese or French platform, a PureToc engine, a Belgian gearbox, from a Dutch group that calls itself Franco-Italo-American. But all's well, Vidal is going to give the brands a new identity 😎
Volkswagen is planning to introduce Chinese models in Europe, and is speeding up its restructuring in the face of falling profits and pressure on manufacturing costs.
Chinese automaker Geely sets up in Spain on Ford production lines at Valencia plant
This is the end od Stellantis. No ICE engines, no EV technology, outdated platforms that only support SUV, poor reliability, generic ugly French design in all brands.
20 years ago, European carmakers joined forces with Chinese manufacturers through joint ventures to produce in China and flood the Chinese market with European cars. As a «thank you», they were given access to some of our «outdated» platforms, so that they could build their own cars, which in no way competed with ours.
Today, the Chinese are teaming up with us through joint ventures (LPMI in this case) to produce on site and flood us. And in return, they leave us their tech! The roles have reversed! We're now just automotive investors. No longer creators.
Their outdated tech, I might add. An e-C5 Aircross needs to switch to 800V and recharge in 20 minutes, nothing more. For that you'd have to turn to CATL, not Leapmotors. The Citroën cube consumes 2kWh/100 less than the B10 on the freeway...
Fredo.
What do you mean by «their outdated technology»? 800 V technology means a substantial cost premium!
The 400 V architecture is still widely used.
An e-C5 Aircross offers an interesting range at a controlled price... Hybrids are here to help you go further and faster!
What do the Renault and VW groups have to offer?
Of course, for future HdG and long-distance models, the democratized 800 V architecture will be indispensable.
With a fuel consumption of over 26kWh/100 at 130km/h stabilized and a not particularly fast recharge on the B10, it's safe to say that Stellantis is continuing to err if he uses this as a basis. I hope that the driving aids will remain European, but a priori the aim is still to crush costs, so this probably won't be the case. Shall we add Linglong tires to finish the picture?
Maybe that's a good thing!
The Chinese are very good at EVs ... Not the Europeans
The Europeans are much better!
Stellantis has already improved Leapmotor by correcting defects.
They complement each other... And Stellantis has 51 % from Leapmotor in Europe.
Yes, that's what a Peugeot salesman who'll do anything to sell would say...
Who could say otherwise today?
Not all Chinese are «very good at EVs». Some are downright bad, and guess who Stellantis has bet on? In short, Stellantis platforms are more pleasant to drive, have better roadholding, better ergonomics, greater efficiency and equivalent charging speed, and a plethoric distribution network in Europe... it's Leapmotor who's a total winner in the partnership.
Fredo.
In terms of value for money, like most Chinese.
Leapmotor is well placed!
Thanks to the cooperation with Leapmotor, technology transfers can be made to Stellantis.
The C10 test drive is rather flattering for less than 37 K€.
19.5 kWh/100 km on freeways in winter.
But it recharges slowly, which is its main drawback.
Leapmotor does not currently make HdG.
As Stellantis is used to sharing platforms on several models, this is just the beginning. Many factories in France and Italy are in dire straits due to a lack of new models and investment. They are being sacrificed to other Chinese manufacturers.
We give them our souls.
For first-price EVs, surely.
People want EVs, but at low prices.
What else can we do?
Criticism is easy.