Stellantis plans to sell Chinese-branded electric vehicles (EVs) in SA developed by its partner Leapmotor, starting with the C10 from September, the company said on Tuesday.
The C10 is an electric SUV with a petrol engine used purely to charge the battery. More Leapmotor models are expected to be launched next year, including fully electric models, MD of Stellantis SA and Sub-Saharan Africa, Mike Whitfield, said in a statement.
Leapmotor created waves with its recent rollout of the all-electric B10 SUV that comes equipped with smart-driving features and lidar sensing technology for less than $18,000 (about R315,000).
In 2023, Stellantis bought a 21% stake in Leapmotor for $1.6bn. The two carmakers also formed a joint venture, Leapmotor International, in which Stellantis holds a 51% stake.
Leapmotor will help the world’s fourth-largest carmaker widen its range of affordable EVs as it presses ahead with electrification at a time when other Chinese carmakers, including BYD and Chery Auto, are aggressively expanding into Africa.
“SA is a critical market for Stellantis, and we are fully committed to unlocking its potential through product, innovation and partnerships,” Whitfield said.
Stellantis, which entered the SA market four years ago, is building a plant in the country, with a maximum capacity of 100,000 vehicles by 2030. It plans to become the biggest player in the Middle East and Africa, targeting sales of 1-million vehicles by 2030, with 35% expected to be electric.
In 2024, it sold 500,000 cars in the Middle East and Africa.
With more than 60% of the SA market concentrated below the R400,000 price point, Stellantis’ Citroën C3 range is gaining strong traction, with the upcoming C3 Basalt set to complete a competitive line-up in the B-hatch and SUV segments early next year, Whitfield said.
Stellantis will also launch the Citroën C3 Hola panel van, its entry into the growing commercial vehicle sector aimed at small-business owners.
Reuters
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