Stellantis has been one of the most important brands in China and its electric vehicles. And now he wants to ally with them

China has become the center of the electric vehicle. In the cornerstone on which everything revolves. The state is crucial in purchasing, producing and distributing this type of vehicle. Over time, they were finally able to get Western manufacturers to view them as equals. and even, Look for solutions among domestic manufacturers.

Just over a month ago, news shook the European press: Audi took some bags from home and, without thinking twice, went to the supermarket in search of a stand for its next electric car. The supermarket was in China.

Finally, Audi arrived agreement with SAICthe traditional local partner of Volkswagen in China To try to resolve the auto group’s massive collapse in the development of its platforms which, among other reasons, ended up causing the departure of Herbert Diess as CEO.

The movement of Germans into China didn’t stop there, and soon after we learned that Volkswagen would also be investing in XPeng to give the company a breath of fresh air and, in return, get a portion of its shares and a position on the board. guidance.

It was two moves that are still surprising but very logical given the weight China has gained in recent years in the electric vehicle. Weight that has encouraged many brands to do so European adventure. The last to take the step in our country was Umoda.

Adventures they always viewed with suspicion from Stellantis. And Carlos Tavares himself, CEO of the huge auto group, has shown himself very contrary For Chinese manufacturers to enter the European market. He maintains that they do not compete on an equal footing, and in fact, some of his claims were France heard it (with whom he has a difficult relationship) or European institutions.

As for now, they looked from Stellantis with hope to China.

Jeep and Ram, to the Chinese adventure

Like Volkswagen has already done, Stellantis is looking for a solution in China for its Jeep and Ram vehicles. At least that’s what they say in bloombergWhich brings together that the Carlos Tavares Group is examining possible alliances with manufacturers in the country, such as Leapmotor.

Stellantis indeed Jeep production discontinued last year in china with bankruptcy joint project Which it owns with Guangzhou Auto Group (GAC). The fall of the joint venture led the American company to set aside its production in the Asian country. Only in the second quarter of 2022 they lost 297 million euros and their sales were a testament.

The decision to seek a strategic partner for Jeep and Ram in China is in line with the decisions Carlos Tavares has already announced regarding his strategy in Asia. Tired of underperforming, he has long expressed his intention to pursue an “asset light” policy in China. This means that the weight of the production will be borne by someone else and will be limited to being mere investors.

Less investment and less participation can also lead to less profit, but of course too Less risk And in the face of market fluctuations, such as what happened in recent months in China with the price war of its electric cars. Already in JulyAnd Carlos Tavares reiterated that his decision to downsize in China was the right one.

Keeping risk to a minimum and trying to achieve the highest profit margins possible is the great science Tavares has been raising for so long. And along the way, he had no qualms about tug-of-war with the world’s governments France also Canada And to ensure that if we want cheap electric cars It will be impossible bring them to the West.

At the moment, nothing has been confirmed, but rumor has it that Leapmotor is the best company to be Stellantis’ strategic partner in China. The company has received a huge boost in its shares, with growth of more than 10% since the news broke.

Leapmotor is one of the companies that We promise great products In the electric car of the future. In April 2022, they have already presented what should be the world’s first electric vehicle with a skeleton battery. This means that the bodywork itself is the batteries.

In addition, at the end of last year they also presented a roadmap in which up to eight models were drawn before 2025. Furocoselectricus They have already raised more than $1,600 million in successive funding rounds.

in Chataka | China has overtaken Japan as the world’s largest automobile exporter. His secret: the electric car

Photo | jump drive