Stellantis Launches All Electric Leapmotor Brand in Malaysia

 Stellantis, who own Fiat, Chrysler, Peugeot, Jeep, Citroen, Alfa Romeo and Ram vehicle brands, and are the world’s fourth-largest automaker / leading mobility solutions provider has answered the call to help  accelerate Malaysia’s energy transition towards electrification by  introducing the Leapmotor brand in Malaysia. Leapmotor is a new all-electric brand under its portfolio of vehicle brands and is a brand with its roots from China. With the support of the Malaysian Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), Leapmotor is making its Southeast Asian debut with the launch of the Leapmotor C10 in Malaysia at the unveiling of the brand today. 

The weekend long event held in conjunction with the launch of the brand and their first model, the C10 SUV was held at TRX Exchange in Kuala Lumpur will be showcasing Stellantis’ commitment to bringing innovative multi-energy cars, including new energy vehicles (NEVs) to the country and region. The launch was officiated by Yang Berhormat Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry.

Leapmotor’s expansion outside of China is driven by a 51/49 Stellantis-led joint venture called Leapmotor International. The joint venture is united by a shared vision and passion for a future in electrification and sustainability. The joint venture gives Stellantis the exclusive rights for the export and sale, as well as manufacturing of Leapmotor products outside China. Malaysia is the second country to introduce Leapmotor, following the brand's launch in Europe last month.

I believe it basically gives Stellantis a foothold in the very much forward aspects of EV manufacturing in China which seems to be more efficient and profitable against EV production in other countries. This could be the reason why Stellantis decided to invest in this China based brand for its EV expansion plans.

YB Senator Tengku Zafrul said, “The collaboration between Stellantis and Leapmotor goes beyond the launch of a new EV; it supports our industrial reform goals of innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness in the automotive sector under both the National Automotive Policy and New Industrial Master Plan. Stellantis' decision to introduce Leapmotor C10 into the Malaysian market also enhances our capabilities and standing regionally, while also strengthening our position within the global automotive industry.”

According to data from Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), 6,117 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) were sold in the first half of 2024, witnessing a surge in the EV market, marking a 112% increase from the same period last year. This remarkable growth signals that Malaysian consumers show an increasing demand for EVs.

The Minister also emphasized that initiatives such as the National Automotive Policy 2020 (NAP 2020) and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) are crucial in establishing Malaysia as a hub for next-generation vehicles (NxGVs), and serve as a foundation for Malaysia to accelerate its EV adoption and attract global automotive giants to invest in local manufacturing, R&D, and talent development.

Daniel Gonzalez, COO, ASEAN, Stellantis said, “Malaysia is a key market for Stellantis, and was chosen as the first market of entry for Leapmotor in this region because there is a strong demand for EV. Additionally, MITI and MIDA have been very supportive in driving adoption of NEVs through various incentives to achieve the country's net zero emission goals by 2050. With Leapmotor now part of Stellantis’ offerings in Malaysia, we are bringing cutting-edge EV technologies to consumers, aiming to contribute to the country’s goal of achieving 15% of total industry volume (TIV) for EVs and hybrids by 2030.”

Stellantis also announced future plans for Malaysia, including the local assembly of multi-energy vehicles of Stellantis brands at the Stellantis Gurun facility in Kedah catering to markets in the ASEAN region, as well as further contributing to the local supply chain, talent development and job creation.