According to Reuters, two informed sources have revealed that Stellantis and its Chinese partner Leapmotor have abandoned plans to produce a second electric vehicle, model B10, at the Stellantis factory in Poland.
One of the sources mentioned that the Stellantis-Leapmotor joint venture is considering Stellantis' Eisenach plant in Germany (currently producing Opel models) and its Trnava plant in Slovakia as alternative production sites for the B10 electric crossover.
The Stellantis plant in Tychy, Poland, has been assembling the compact Leapmotor T03 EV, with all components imported from China. It remains unclear whether Stellantis is also reviewing T03 production or if relocating B10 production from Poland will impact local employment. Sources indicated that producing the B10 in Germany would involve higher utility and labor costs compared to Poland.
Leapmotor has stated that the B10 will be the first model in its upcoming B-series EVs, designed specifically for overseas markets, including Europe. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares highlighted the collaboration with Leapmotor and the B10 model as a way to offer "high-tech, affordable" EVs to international consumers.
Stellantis and Leapmotor have yet to disclose the final production location for the B10 SUV or whether other factors contributed to the decision to move production from Poland.
On October 10, China's Ministry of Commerce advised Chinese automakers to pause large-scale investments in EU countries that support the EU's proposal for tariffs on Chinese EVs.
Previously, ten EU member states supported the EU's proposal to impose tariffs of up to 45% on EVs imported from China, with Poland among them. Germany and Slovakia were among five EU countries opposing the tariffs, while twelve other EU nations abstained from the vote.
In response to these reports, Stellantis and Leapmotor declined to comment, and neither China's Ministry of Commerce nor Poland's Ministry of Industry immediately responded to requests for comment. The German government, Slovak government, and Opel also did not immediately provide comments.
