18 hours ago
13
Jeep, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat could be overtaken by newcomer Leapmotor by the end of 2025 as interest surges in its affordable electric models.
Electric Cars
Leapmotor Australia – with an expanded product line-up – could become the best-selling brand under the local Stellantis umbrella, surpassing established brands like Jeep and Alfa Romeo in just a year.
The remaining brands that are on offer here are split between importers Ateco and Inchcape, with Ram and Maserati offered by the former and only Peugeot offered by the latter after Citroen exited Australia last year.
This leaves Leapmotor International, which was formed in 2023 with the a 51:49 joint venture favouring Stellantis.
Leapmotor controls all distribution and production within its home-market of China, while Stellantis has its hand on all export markets.
Speaking to Australia media, Leapmotor International CEO Tianshu Xin downplayed where the new Chinese brand would be on Stellantis Australia’s pecking order, but expected growth with new products coming soon.
“It doesn’t have to be the best-selling amongst the Stellantis family,” Xin said.
“Our vision is to be the top three everywhere, every market we play, among the Chinese BEV [battery-electric vehicle] players.
“That’s the segment we are focusing on.”
Last year, Alfa Romeo sold 561 units, Fiat sold 527, Fiat Professional sold 1478, Jeep hit 2377, while Leapmotor only launched late in 2024.
For the first quarter of the 2025, Alfa Romeo has hit 119 sales, Fiat is on 118, Fiat Professional is at 414, and Jeep is sitting at 529 sales.
Leapmotor, meanwhile, has sold 138 sales with a single model in showrooms, its C10 all-electric mid-size SUV.
It brings the point of entry down to $43,888 before on-road costs, $2000 cheaper than the all-electric C10.
The C10 mid-size SUV will also be joined by the B10 small SUV, and more, but exact plans are yet to be disclosed.
Xin said a more important role for Leapmotor to play in Australia is as a safeguard against other Chinese players that could chip away at Stellantis’ market share.
“Australia is a great market and a great opportunity,” Xin said.
“We’re not entering here for the sake of entering … When we’re making business decisions, the business case needs to make sense.
“We have Stellantis here … how is the Stellantis family going to compete with those new players from China? One of the best ways is to use Leapmotor.”
Electric Cars Guide
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
