Stellantis NV CEO Antonio Filosa stated on May 22 that the company is considering expanding its partnership with Chinese collaborator Leapmotor in Mexico and Canada, potentially producing Chinese-branded vehicles in those markets, but currently sees no opportunity for such production in the United States.

Speaking after an investor event at Stellantis NV's North American headquarters near Detroit, Filosa indicated he sees an opportunity in the Mexican market and possibly space in Canada as well. Previous reports from Bloomberg noted that Stellantis NV is in discussions with Leapmotor about producing electric vehicles at an idled plant in Brampton, Ontario. The facility has faced underutilization since its closure in 2024. Should an agreement be reached, Leapmotor would become the first Chinese emerging automaker to achieve localized production in North America.

Filosa explicitly ruled out the possibility of manufacturing Chinese-branded cars within the United States itself, stating there is currently no space and he does not see it. This assessment is based on persistent U.S. concerns regarding the entry of Chinese automakers into the North American market. Traditional automakers have long worried that Chinese car companies might gain access to the U.S. consumer market through collaborative channels, while U.S. policy attitudes towards Chinese vehicle imports have also grown increasingly stringent.

Canada, in contrast, has demonstrated a more open stance. The country currently permits the import of up to 49,000 Chinese-made electric vehicles annually for retail sale, subject to a 6.1% tariff. If Leapmotor vehicles are produced at the Brampton plant, it could serve as a significant platform for overcoming North American trade barriers.

Stellantis NV holds a 21% stake in Leapmotor, making it the largest shareholder. The two companies established a joint venture in 2023, with Stellantis NV holding a 51% stake and possessing exclusive production and sales rights for Leapmotor models outside the Greater China region. Filosa stated that deepening the collaboration helps boost sales, leverage Chinese technological expertise, and share capital expenditures.

Regarding the U.S. market, Filosa expressed that the company remains optimistic about cooperation opportunities with non-Chinese brands, citing the recently announced exploration of product development collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover as an example. Analysts note that Stellantis NV is pursuing a dual-track strategy: seeking synergies with non-Chinese brands in the United States while cautiously advancing the localized production of Chinese-branded models in Canada and Mexico.