Chinese electric vehicle brand Leapmotor is expanding rapidly across Europe, integrating into the extensive dealership network of Stellantis. According to Hungarian importer C Automobil Import Kft., the brand has more than doubled its European sales and service footprint compared to 2024, now operating over 800 points across the continent.
In 2025 alone, Leapmotor entered new markets including Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden. The European expansion is being driven through Leapmotor International B.V., a joint venture in which Stellantis N.V. holds a 51% stake and Leapmotor 49%. The partnership officially began European operations in September 2024. In Hungary, distribution has been handled by the Emil Frey Group since May 2025.
This structure matters. Unlike many previous Chinese entrants, Leapmotor is not building from scratch. It is leveraging Stellantis’ established European infrastructure — dealerships, servicing capacity, logistics and regulatory compliance experience. That dramatically lowers the traditional barriers to entry.
Early Hungarian Performance
Hungary currently has 10 Leapmotor dealerships and service points, with two more planned in the north-east this year. Medium-term, the network is considered close to national coverage.
Sales figures show a cautious but notable start. In 2025’s partial launch year, 91 vehicles were sold in five months — 68 of them fully electric. In January this year alone, 40 vehicles were sold, capturing 0.48% of Hungary’s total new car market. More strikingly, in the electric vehicle segment, 39 units translated into a 5% market share.
For a new entrant, that is not insignificant.
The company expects around 4% market share in Hungary’s EV segment in its first full year in 2026. Because its lineup consists solely of electric and hybrid-electric vehicles, overall passenger car market share is projected at roughly 0.5%.
A Rapid Global Rise
Globally, Leapmotor delivered 596,555 vehicles in 2025, marking 103% year-on-year growth and making it the leading Chinese NEV (New Energy Vehicle) start-up brand.
That scale is important. Europe has become a key battleground for Chinese EV makers. With EU discussions around tariffs and trade tensions ongoing, Chinese brands are increasingly looking for partnership models that anchor them within European industrial ecosystems rather than appearing as pure imports.
The Stellantis joint venture achieves precisely that.
The Hungarian EV Landscape
Hungary presents a mixed environment for EV expansion. On one hand, the country has a growing battery manufacturing presence and strong ties to the automotive sector. On the other, EV adoption remains sensitive to price, charging infrastructure, and state incentives.
A 5% EV segment share in a single month suggests there is appetite for competitively priced alternatives. Chinese manufacturers often compete aggressively on price-performance ratio, offering longer range and higher equipment levels at lower price points than established Western brands.
But long-term success depends on more than pricing. Brand trust, resale value, servicing reliability, and regulatory stability all play decisive roles in European markets.
Strategic Timing
Leapmotor’s expansion comes at a time when European automakers are under pressure — balancing electrification investment, slowing demand in parts of the EU, and rising competition. For Hungary specifically, where German carmakers dominate production, the arrival of a fast-growing Chinese EV brand adds another layer to an already evolving automotive landscape.
The key question is whether Leapmotor becomes a niche EV alternative — or a structural competitor reshaping the lower and mid-range electric segments.
For Hungarian consumers, more competition typically means better pricing and greater choice.
For Hungary’s broader automotive ecosystem, however, the story may be more complex. The country sits at the intersection of European manufacturing and Chinese battery investment. The expansion of brands like Leapmotor reinforces Hungary’s position within the shifting global EV supply chain.
Whether that translates into sustained market share growth remains to be seen.
But one thing is clear: Leapmotor is not testing Europe cautiously. It is moving fast — and Hungary is part of that strategy.