Carmaker Stellantis is expanding its partnership with China’s Leapmotor, in a move that will help secure the future of its two plants in Spain and the nearly 6,000 people they employ.The group, which owns the Fiat, Peugeot and Jeep brands, said it planned to transfer ownership of one of the plants, in Madrid, to its Chinese partner.
Leapmotor will start production at the facility from 2028, including of a model that will be sold in Europe and other markets outside China. The Madrid plant employs about 1,500 people and had been due to stop manufacturing the Citroën C4, which accounts for most of its production.
The collaboration will also involve producing a new jointly developed electric SUV under the Opel brand at the other plant, in Zaragoza, which already builds Leapmotor’s B10 model and employs 4,400 people.