Leapmotor and Stellantis have formalised an agreement to locally assemble Leapmotor electric vehicles in Malaysia by the end of 2025. Production will take place at the latter’s existing facility in Gurun, Kedah with an initial investment of EUR5 million (~RM24 million). The first model to roll out will be the Leapmotor C10, which was first introduced to the Malaysian market in October last year.
The assembly programme will initially serve the local market, but the longer-term strategy includes expanding Leapmotor’s reach across ASEAN and other global regions. Stellantis says it also plans to introduce additional models, such as the B10 five-seat SUV and the C10 REEV, as part of the initiative.
Stellantis ASEAN Managing Director Isaac Yeo described Malaysia as a key manufacturing hub for the company’s future plans. He noted that production of the C10 would begin using a semi-knocked down (SKD) format, before moving towards full CKD assembly with a view to supporting exports. The company aims to gradually increase regional exports between 2026 and 2027 as part of its localisation efforts.
Gurun was selected due to its strategic location and established automotive infrastructure. With a current annual production capacity of nearly 60,000 units, Stellantis says the facility will support its “Built in ASEAN for ASEAN” strategy, and has been upgraded to support EV production.
Leapmotor executives highlighted the significance of the collaboration, saying it will support the company’s regional growth while contributing to Malaysia’s role in clean energy development. CEO Zhu Jiangming stated that the venture will help open up the Southeast Asian market, while Leapmotor International CEO Xin Tianshu added that the partnership underscores both companies’ commitment to sustainable mobility in the region.
(Source: Stellantis/Leapmotor press release, Facebook)
