Stellantis-Backed Tesla Rival Leapmotor Enters Mexico, Marking First North America Expansion Amid Canada Production Plans

Stellantis NV -backed (NYSE: STLA ) Chinese automaker Z hejiang Leapmotor Technology Co.

Ltd. marked its official entry into the North American market following its debut in Mexico on Monday.

Leapmotor Makes Mexico Debut The Chinese automaker’s sole offering in Mexico, the B10 crossover SUV, is available across dealerships in the country after it conducted local adaptation tests at Stellantis’ center in Mexico, according to a statement by the company cited by CnEVPost in a report.

Read Also: Tesla Rival BYD Applies For Permit To Allow Canada Imports After Tariff Agreement The SUV would be available in a single trim in an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) guise retailing at 575,000 Pesos (approximately $33,000), according to Leapmotor’s official Mexico website.

The vehicle features a 1.5-liter engine and a 215hp electric motor in tandem with an 18.8 kWh LFP battery, which provides an all-electric range of 60 miles, the automaker says.

Combined, the vehicle provides over 615 miles of range, the Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA ) rival said.

An EREV adopts a hybrid setup where all the propulsion is carried out by the electric motor while the gasoline engine functions as a generator for the motor.

Notably, the internal combustion engine (ICE) has no connection with the drivetrain in an EREV.

USMCA Uncertainty The launch comes as the U.S. rejected renewing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) following its expiration on July 1st.

Trump had earlier criticized trade deficits with Canada.

U.S.

Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that the “United States did not agree to renew the USMCA in its current form,” adding that the agreement would remain enforced as the parties reconvene to address Washington’s concerns about trade deficits.

Stellantis Faces Opposition For Leapmotor Canada Plant Ontario Premier Doug Ford had opposed Stellantis’ plans to convert one of its facilities in Brampton, Ontario, to manufacture Leapmotor vehicles.

Notably, Canada’s leader of the Official Opposition, Pierre Poilievre, also opposed the entry of Chinese automakers in the country, advocating for a U.S.-focused auto industry strategy, including exemptions for automakers from federal sales tax for Canadian-made vehicles.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney earlier this year announced an agreement with Beijing to allow over 49,000 EVs manufactured in China into the country at a lower tariff rate of 6.1%.

President Donald Trump ‘s ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, also staunchly opposed the entry of Chinese-made EVs into the U.S. market.

Trump Designates Nio as Affiliated With Chinese Military Meanwhile, following Trump’s visit to Beijing, the White House has labeled automaker NIO Inc. (NYSE: NIO ) as a company affiliated with the Chinese military, leading to condemnation from Nio, which also threatened to take legal action against the Trump administration.

Read Also: Trump Once Said the US Did Not Need Canadian Goods— Now Mark Carney's New Oil Pipeline Could Open Exports Beyond US Check out more of Future Of Mobility coverage by following this link.

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