- Dongfeng-owned Voyah will make hybrids and EVs at a Stellantis plant in France.
- In return, Jeep and Peugeot fashions produced in China shall be exported globally.
- Stellantis and Dongfeng are establishing a brand new three way partnership in Europe.
It was solely final week that Stellantis and state-owned Dongfeng inked a deal to construct Jeeps and Peugeots in China for native and international markets, and now the 2 corporations are strengthening ties as soon as once more. A brand new three way partnership in Europe will see Chinese language automobiles being constructed on the continent with Stellantis’ blessing.
Based in 2019, Dongfeng’s luxurious model Voyah has been given permission to assemble automobiles on the Rennes plant in France. Whereas the names of the fashions haven’t been introduced, we do know they are going to be New Vitality Automobiles (NEVs), a time period utilized in China for plug-in hybrids, battery EVs, and range-extending EVs with a gasoline engine serving as a generator.
With a 51-percent stake, Stellantis has controlling curiosity within the new Europe-based three way partnership with Dongfeng. The choice advantages each events. For Stellantis, the underused French manufacturing unit, the place solely the Citroën C5 Aircross is assembled, will obtain a manufacturing increase. For Dongfeng, constructing Voyah-badged automobiles in Europe will permit the corporate to dodge EU tariffs.
Photograph by: Voyah
Don’t anticipate to see Voyah fashions obtainable throughout the complete continent, because the plan is to promote electrified automobiles solely in “designated markets in Europe.” Given the model’s premium positioning, Stellantis and Dongfeng are prone to goal Western and Northern European areas.
Wanting forward, the partnership may develop, because the core Dongfeng model may construct NEVs below its personal title on the manufacturing unit positioned within the commune of Chartres-de-Bretagne. Along with car manufacturing, the three way partnership additionally requires gross sales and distribution by Stellantis’ seller community throughout Europe.
The announcement comes lower than two weeks after Stellantis-owned Opel mentioned it could construct a compact electrical crossover co-developed with Leapmotor in Zaragoza, Spain. Stellantis holds a 51-percent stake within the Chinese language automaker. Leapmotor is almost as younger as Voyah, having been based simply 11 years in the past.
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Supply: Voyah
Motor1’s Take: European automakers are taking an enormous threat by permitting Chinese language manufacturers to construct automobiles on their residence turf to keep away from EU tariffs. Opening manufacturing unit doorways to electrified automobiles of Chinese language origin could show worthwhile within the brief time period, however it would finally result in elevated competitors.
Chinese language automakers have gotten an more and more highly effective pressure on the continent. By means of the primary quarter of 2026, SAIC captured a 2.3-percent market share, whereas BYD reached 0.9 p.c, in keeping with information printed by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).
With Stellantis and different long-established manufacturers seeking to share or promote manufacturing unit capability, the Chinese language presence in Europe is simply anticipated to develop. It’s a slippery slope with a excessive likelihood of backfiring if extra Chinese language corporations are allowed to construct automobiles straight in Europe.
