Leapmotor T03 budget EV production underway in Europe

Stellantis has commenced pilot production of the 2025 Leapmotor T03 at its Tychy plant in Poland, where it will be produced alongside a variety of other small EVs from the auto giant including the Jeep Avenger, Alfa Romeo Junior and Fiat 600e.

Designed to sell within the region for less than €25,000 ($A40,600), the Leapmotor T03 will be pitched as a budget model alongside other Stellantis EVs such as the Citroen e-C3 and the incoming Jeep Renegade and Fiat Grande Panda.

Full-scale production of the Leapmotor T03 is expected to begin at the Tychy factory by September.

There’s no word yet on right-hand drive production, but the T03 – whether sourced from Europe or China – is scheduled to launch Down Under as the second model from Leapmotor after the C10 mid-size electric SUV lands here during the final quarter of this year.

Stellantis has a majority 51 per cent stake in the new Leapmotor International venture, having snapped up a 21 per cent share in Leapmotor as part of a $A2.4 billion deal.

Following the launch of the T03, the A12 small SUV will enter production in the first quarter of 2025.

Both vehicles will escape the higher import tariffs that Chinese cars will soon be hit with in Europe, which could help the T03 become one of Europe’s cheapest EVs when it launches.

In China, the T03 has been on sale since 2020, priced from around $28,000. A similar entry price is expected in the UK and Australia.

The T03 has a claimed 265km driving range (WLTP), making it competitive with the bigger GWM Ora and BYD Dolphin, not to mention the BYD Seagull that’s also on the cards for Australia.

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