From September 2024, Stellantis will launch the T03 and C10 electric models from Leapmotor, the Chinese manufacturer, on the European market. Thanks to an exclusive distribution agreement and competitive pricing, the group is well positioned to dominate the sector.
Stellantis recently acquired 21% of Leapmotor, an eight-year-old Chinese car manufacturer, for an investment of 1.5 billion euros. This operation also includes obtaining exclusive export rights since last year.
The T03 and C10 vehicles will mark the start of a series of exports from China, with at least one new model expected to be introduced each year for the next three years.
Leapmotor International, the 15th Stellantis brand
Leapmotor International, an entity jointly created by the two companies for global sales, plans to sell vehicles in 200 dealerships across Europe by the end of 2024, and subsequently targets the markets of India, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa and South America. The launch in France is planned for September 2024. By 2027, six models should be available.
The C10, an SUV available in five or seven seat versions, will offer a range of 420 km and up to 340 horsepower. It will be imported from the Leapmotor factory located in Hangzhou, China. Furthermore, Stellantis is likely to produce the T03 model for the European market at its factory in Tychy, Poland, alongside other models such as the Jeep Avenger, Alfa Romeo Junior (formerly Milano) and Fiat 600e. .
Leapmotor T03 already available in France
The Leapmotor T03 is equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor with 109 horsepower and 158 Nm of torque, positioned on the front wheels. The vehicle integrates a 41.3 kWh (gross capacity) LFP battery, installed under the floor.
It supports AC charging up to 6.6 kW via a Type 2 connector, allowing a 30% to 80% recharge in approximately 3.5 hours. In fast charging mode with a CCS Combo connector, the time needed to go from 30% to 80% is reduced to 36 minutes.
Concerning autonomy, the T03 can cover 280 km in the WLTP mixed cycle for an average consumption of 15.7 kWh per 100 km.
Aesthetically, this city car will rival the Dacia Spring. It has a jovial design with a smiling front, comparable to that of the Fiat 600e, and large round headlights. Its dimensions are 3.62 m long, 1.65 m wide and 1.57 m high, for a weight of 1,203 kg. It can accommodate up to four passengers and offers a trunk volume of 210 liters, slightly larger than that of a Fiat 500e, which is 185 liters.
Currently, it is possible to acquire a Leapmotor T03 for €25,990 via the distribution network of the importer SN Diffusion. For the moment, the T03 and the C11 SUV are the only models of the brand sold in France.
Leapmotor C10, waiting for more information
From the start of the next school year, the T03 will be accompanied by the new C10 compact SUV, which is based on the new Leap 3.0 electric platform designed for international production. This model will integrate Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) technology for better rigidity and optimization of the electric powertrain. Although specific details on the C10 remain limited, it is known that the vehicle will measure 4.74 meters in length and could be offered in 5- and 7-seat configurations, with engines offering an output of 231 to 340 horsepower. These engines will benefit from oil cooling and silicon carbide components for increased compactness and lightness, and will be available in rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive versions.
The range will not exceed 420 km with a 69.9 kWh battery.
In accordance with the logic of Chinese manufacturers and Tesla with Software-to-vehicle, the C10 is packed with state-of-the-art technologies. The LeapOS operating system, based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 processor, manages the vehicle’s displays, communications and infotainment. Semi-autonomous driving is standard and uses a GPS guidance system assisted by 30 sensors, including LiDAR and HD cameras, controlled by the NVIDIA Drive Orin SoC processor. Obviously it remains to be seen what all this will look like on the road.
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- Engine power: 44 hp
- Motor torque: 125 Nm
- Maximum speed: 125km/h
With the Spring, Dacia returns to the concept of the minimal car, which deliberately ignores the absolute versatility expected of a modern car. In doing so, it escapes the usual shortcomings of electric cars and perfectly assumes the role of a second car, capable of replacing an old-fashioned second-hand car at an affordable price and, above all, a much lower cost of use. However, you must be well aware of your limits before embarking on the adventure and, if Dacia is not thinking of changing its tires, consider quickly changing the Linglong tires.
With the Spring, Dacia returns to the concept of the minimal car, which deliberately ignores the absolute versatility expected of a modern car. In doing so, it escapes the usual shortcomings of electric cars and perfectly assumes the role of a second car, capable of replacing an old-fashioned second-hand car at an affordable price and, above all, a much lower cost of use. However, you must be well aware of your limits before embarking on the adventure and, if Dacia is not thinking of changing its tires, consider quickly changing the Linglong tires.
Source : The New Factory
Auto-moto journalist, specialist in new technologies and their uses. I dissect the news from manufacturers on a daily basis and analyze the trends of new mobility players in a world in transition. Loves driving and drifting too much to leave that to a self-driving car.
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