The Leapmotor B10, a Chinese electric SUV being built at Stellantis Figueruelas, has begun public-road testing near Zaragoza. The first test cars have left the plant with red temporary plates, signaling the pre-series phase of the factory’s biggest project in years.
Stellantis Figueruelas took just over a month after the summer break to prepare for the B10’s arrival on line 2. The rollout has been measured as management works to avoid mistakes while learning the requirements of a new brand and electric technology. La Tribuna de Automoción reports that the planned production rate is about 40 vehicles per hour, with a single shift during the initial phase.
This is a major change for the Zaragoza plant. Leapmotor, a Chinese brand now half-owned by Stellantis, has accelerated its modernization. Stellantis aims to attract Spanish buyers seeking more affordable electric cars as Asian brands gain ground on price and technology.
More than 400 new hires have joined the team to support the B10 ramp-up. Production remains low, with only a small number of vehicles coming off the line as the factory fine-tunes its systems ahead of full production.
Stellantis and Leapmotor will hold an event at Figueruelas on October 16, where the B10 will make its official debut. The launch marks Leapmotor’s first major step into Europe, with Zaragoza as its starting point. Motor.es, citing several Spanish automotive sources, reports that the B10 is the first Chinese electric vehicle to be assembled in Spain under the Stellantis-Leapmotor partnership. The project advances the localization of EV production for the European market and forms part of a broader modernization effort, making Figueruelas a basic hub for Stellantis’ future electric-vehicle strategy in Europe.
Spain’s car market faces an aging fleet and the pollution that comes with it, while new brands are moving in quickly. As reported earlier, efforts to replace older cars with cleaner models are gaining momentum, and the Leapmotor B10 adds another option.
Building a Chinese electric SUV in Spain is a impressive move for Stellantis Figueruelas as it bets on the future of driving in Europe. If the B10 proves affordable and reliable, it could speed the shift away from older cars and change which companies lead the market in the years ahead.
