Stellantis Just Helped A Chinese EV Brand Enter North America

A North American debut that stops at the border

Chinese EV maker Leapmotor has officially entered Mexico, giving the Stellantis-backed brand its first foothold in North America. Leapmotor has launched its B10 EREV SUV in Mexico for $32,895, offering up to 615 miles of range combined, from its 1.5-liter range extender engine and electric motor, paired with an 18.8kWh battery. This brings one of China's fastest-growing automakers to America's doorstep, while US trade barriers keep it out of domestic showrooms.

Instead, Mexico has become the company's North American foothold, highlighting how trade policy has effectively split the region into two very different EV markets. This is the closest a Chinese EV brand has come to the US market without actually entering it, and Stellantis is a big reason why.

Why Mexico Makes Sense

Unlike most Chinese carmakers, Leapmotor didn't have to assemble a dealer network from scratch. The brand is backed by Stellantis, which owns a controlling 51 percent stake in Leapmotor International and has been leading the Chinese automaker's overseas expansion. Stellantis already operates an extensive retail, service and engineering footprint in Mexico, giving the brand infrastructure that would otherwise take years to build. Before the B10 reached showrooms, it spent more than a year undergoing validation and testing at Stellantis' engineering center in Mexico, where it was adapted for local roads, climate and regulations.

That gives Leapmotor a leg up on rivals like BYD, which have had to develop market by market. Mexico has increasingly become the first stop for automakers looking to establish a North American presence. It's becoming the logical first stop for Chinese automakers because it offers a sizeable automotive market without the tariff wall. For Chinese-built vehicles, crossing into the US is a very different challenge.

Close Enough to Notice, Too Far to Buy

Americans won't be able to buy a Leapmotor anytime soon. Tariffs and political opposition continue to keep Chinese-built EVs out of US showrooms, forcing companies like Leapmotor to rethink expansion. But for shoppers living just across the border, another low-cost Chinese EV brand is now an option.

Even if Leapmotor never reaches US dealerships, its Mexico launch shows how Chinese automakers are adapting rather than retreating. Instead of waiting for trade barriers to fall, they're building their global presence one open market at a time.

View the full article