Vauxhall’s New C-Segment SUV borrows from Leapmotor

Car NewsSUV

8 May

Chinese manufacturer Leapmotor - which is 51% owned by Stellantis - is partnering with the anglo-European-American super-group to develop their next generation of SUV’s.

The first product coming from the new partnership will be an all-new, ground-up C-Segment SUV developed for Vauxhall-Opel, and designed in Rüsselsheim, Germany.

Stellantis and Leapmotor are also considering expanding their partnership beyond the one jointly developed SUV, with the new vehicle serving as a blueprint for expansion globally.

It puts Vauxhall and sister brand, Opel, strategically ahead of other Stellantis brands with electrification. Sales of the new C-Segment SUV are expected to start in 2028 and will sit alongside the existing Grandland, Frontera, and Mokka.

Opel-Vauxhall CEO Florian Huettl said "The SUV would be is designed and created by us at Opel-Vauxhall in Rüsselsheim and developed by international teams located in Germany and China. The partnership with Leapmotor should enable a development time of less than two years. With this, Opel-Vauxhall is planning a further important step in the development of state-of-the-art and accessible electric vehicles for our customers,".

The new vehicle will use core components from the latest Leapmotor electric architecture and battery technology, along with Vauxhall-Opel’s design and on-board experience and its chassis engineering.

The SUV is could be manufactured at its production in Zaragoza, Spain, alongside the Vauxhall Corsa, which Stellantis says is under evaluation.