Stellantis is set to launch vehicles equipped with cutting-edge smart driving technology in the European market next year in partnership with Chinese automaker Leapmotor. Reuters reported this development, citing Stellantis Senior Vice President Cao Li. This strategic move comes as competition heats up in the battery and extended-range electric vehicle segments.
Li revealed that Stellantis will establish a dedicated European research and development team to customize autonomous driving algorithms based on data collected from European roads. He emphasized that the main challenge lies in the differences between road conditions and traffic rules in China and Europe. He noted the need to adapt their systems to local road conditions for effective training and implementation.
Leapmotor plans to enhance its new B10 crossover through over-the-air (OTA) software updates. These updates will introduce automated urban navigation capabilities, advancing the vehicle to Level 3 autonomous driving. This level allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel, surpassing the more limited Level 2 features currently available. The B10, which recently began pre-sales in China, starts at 109,800 CNY (approximately $15,118). Models equipped with lidar and urban navigation features are priced from 129,800 CNY ($17,872). However, Leapmotor’s efforts to upgrade the B10 with these advanced features are currently awaiting regulatory approval, as new Chinese regulations require industry review for autonomous driving-related OTA upgrades.
Stellantis made a significant investment in Leapmoto last year, acquiring a 21% stake for $1.6 billion, forming Leapmotor International with a 51% controlling stake. The automakers are reportedly eyeing Spain as a potential production site for the B10 model targeting the European market, with production slated to begin next year. Leapmotor will unveil its second C Series model at the Shanghai Motor Show in April 2025.
Meanwhile, in November 2024, Stellantis and Leapmotor scrapped plans to manufacture a second EV model at a Stellantis plant in Poland, marking a shift in their collaboration strategy.
