Netherlands automaker Stellantis and Chinese automobile manufacturer Leapmotor have marked a pivotal milestone in the region’s electrification journey with the local assembly of Leapmotor vehicles in Malaysia, signaling the start of Leapmotor’s local assembly plans in Malaysia.

The duo said in a statement on last Friday that the initiative, which will be based at Stellantis’ existing plant in Gurun, Kedah, begins with an initial investment of EUR 5 million ($5.75 million).

This strategic move places Malaysia at the forefront of EV industrialization in the ASEAN region and reflects Stellantis’ commitment to accelerating sustainable mobility through its partnership with Leapmotor, a fast-growing New Energy Vehicle (NEV) leader from China.

This initiative reinforces Stellantis’ commitment to regional growth, with the India and Asia Pacific (IAP) region identified as one of the company’s key growth drivers under its Dare Forward 2030 strategy.

By introducing Leapmotor’s advanced and accessible EVs, Stellantis is strengthening its electrification roadmap while bringing high-tech mobility solutions to Southeast Asia.

“This milestone marks more than the start of local assembly — it marks the next chapter in Stellantis’ electrification journey across ASEAN,

“By combining Leapmotor’s electric vehicle (EV) innovation and success with Stellantis’ regional expertise and global scale, we are laying the foundation for an accessible, sustainable future of mobility right here in Malaysia and across Southeast Asia,” said Ashwani Muppasani, Chief Operating Officer of Stellantis India & Asia Pacific.

According to the statement, the local assembly of Leapmotor vehicles will be anchored at Stellantis’ Gurun, Kedah.

Chosen for its strategic location and established automotive infrastructure, Gurun’s status as a regional automotive hub enables efficient production scale-up and seamless distribution to neighboring ASEAN markets, in line with Stellantis’ ‘Built in ASEAN for ASEAN’ roadmap.

“The Gurun plant has become a cornerstone of Stellantis’ manufacturing presence in the region,

“We have proactively enhanced its capabilities to support EV assembly, and we are proud that Leapmotor will be the first locally assembled electric vehicle to emerge from this plant,” said Isaac Yeo, Managing Director of Stellantis ASEAN.

According to him, this marks a meaningful step forward not just for Stellantis, but for Malaysia’s role in the regional EV landscape.

According to the statement, production of the locally assembled Leapmotor models, starting with the Leapmotor C10, is set to commence by the end of 2025.

This initiative is also aligned with Malaysia’s National Automotive Policy (NAP 2030) and supports the country’s broader ambitions under its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025.

Beyond automotive manufacturing, the collaboration is expected to stimulate industrial growth, support technology transfer, and further strengthen bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and China.

“The localized assembly project in Malaysia will accelerate Leapmotor’s global strategic expansion,

“We look forward to working with Stellantis Group to bring new technology and vitality to the transformation of Malaysia’s automotive industry, and to set a benchmark and model for opening up the entire Southeast Asian market for Leapmotor,” said Zhu Jiangming, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Leapmotor.

Meanwhile, Tianshu Xin, Chief Executive Officer of Leapmotor International, said Leapmotor International’s brand promise is ‘Excellence Within Reach.’

“This is not just a slogan—it reflects Leapmotor’s commitment to offering consumers ‘technology for all, high quality at an affordable price’,

“This collaboration also highlights the shared goal of Stellantis and Leapmotor to promote clean energy development in the local market,” he added.

Following its Malaysian debut in October 2024 and a successful launch in Thailand, the statement said Leapmotor is set to expand its presence within the region, reflecting the increasing demand for high-quality, affordable EVs and Stellantis’ regional distribution capabilities.

With a shared vision to democratise electric mobility, Stellantis and Leapmotor are paving the way for an inclusive EV future, starting from Malaysia and reaching across ASEAN, according to the statement.

As operations for local assembly gear up, more details on product offerings, pricing, and market availability will be revealed in the lead-up to the production start, it added.

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