Stellantis-Backed Leapmotor T03 City Car and C10 SUV Launch in European Market

Stellantis is bringing Chinese automaker Leapmotor’s electric cars to Europe. They’re starting with two models: the T03 hatchback and the C10 SUV.

The T03 is a small city car priced at €18,900 ($21,060). It’s aimed at budget-conscious buyers who want an affordable electric vehicle. The C10 SUV is larger and more expensive, starting at €36,400 ($40,560).

Leapmotor isn’t new to making cars. The T03 has been sold in China since 2020. But now it’s coming to Europe to compete with other budget EVs like the Dacia Spring, Citroen e-C3, and Fiat Panda.

The T03 is small, measuring just 3,620 mm (142.5 inches) long. It has a single electric motor that produces 94 horsepower. The battery is 37.3 kWh, giving it a range of 265 km (165 miles) on a single charge.

Despite its low price, the T03 comes well-equipped. It has an 8-inch digital dashboard, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, a panoramic sunroof, and various driver assistance features.

In the UK, the T03 will cost £15,995. This makes it one of the cheapest electric cars available. It offers more range than its main rival, the Dacia Spring, beating it by 25 miles.

The T03 is faster than the Spring too. It can go from 0-62 mph in 12 seconds, which is 1.7 seconds quicker than the Dacia. However, it has a smaller boot, offering 210 liters of space compared to the Spring’s 308 liters.

Charging the T03 isn’t the fastest. It can charge at up to 48 kW, which is slow for a modern EV. But because the battery is small, it can still go from 30% to 80% charge in 36 minutes.

Stellantis, which owns brands like Jeep, Citroen, and Fiat, has a majority stake in Leapmotor. This partnership will help Leapmotor quickly expand in Europe. They plan to have 500 dealerships across Europe by 2026.

The T03 models sold in Europe will be built at a Stellantis factory in Poland. This is the same plant that makes other small cars like the Jeep Avenger and Fiat 600. The larger C10 SUV, however, will be imported from China.

Leapmotor plans to keep expanding its lineup. They aim to launch a new EV every year for the next three years. This aggressive strategy shows they’re serious about making a mark in the European car market.