Stellantis will produce Chinese-made Jeeps for Europe by 2030

Stellantis has announced plans to start selling a Chinese-made Jeep model produced in Europe in 2030, deepening the automaker’s manufacturing partnership with state-backed Dongfeng Motor. During a media call, regional Jeep president Fabio Catone confirmed that the large SUV will be jointly produced at Dongfeng’s factory in Wuhan; He also shared that the brand’s European lineup will expand from two models today to six models by the end of the decade. The arrangement marks a reversal of Stellantis’ previous stance towards its Chinese joint venture partner. The automaker withdrew from the relationship in 2022 under the tenure of former Chief Executive Carlos Tavares. This meant that at some point Stellantis could stop production in China altogether. Current Chief Executive Antonio Filosa, who took over in mid-2025, has since revived the alliance, with the two companies also establishing a venture that will allow Dongfeng to produce its own vehicles at the Stellantis factory in France. Jeep is central to Stellantis’ broader transformation strategy. The brand joins Ram, Peugeot and Fiat as one of the four priority brands for investment, receiving a cumulative 70% of the €60 billion (US$70 billion) industrial strategy announced in May 2026. Stellantis said the remaining ten brands in its portfolio, which include Alfa Romeo, Chrysler and Citroen, would rely on common platforms developed for the core four and play more limited regional roles. Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor and luxury brand Maserati are thought to be excluded from this strategy, with more details expected to emerge later in the year. Besides the Dongfeng-built SUV, two additional Jeep models are planned: compact and large B-segment SUVs built on the group’s STLA One platform and positioned alongside the existing Avenger. Catone declined to give a launch timeline beyond confirming some would arrive before 2030, and the company did not reveal where the two smaller models would be produced, only stating that a “very clear plan” was still being finalized. The Wrangler’s discontinuation in Europe shows the limits of this expansion. Stellantis has confirmed that the model will not return to the region in the foreseeable future, citing the difficulty of meeting strict European crash test and emissions requirements given its distinctive body shape. Catone said that the company is still trying to find solutions to this situation (possibly through lobbying) and will not include the model in its plans until they are resolved. It’s worth noting that Stellantis’ growing reliance on Chinese manufacturing extends well beyond Jeep. The automaker recently deepened its ties with Leapmotor; this includes the Spanish production of second electric vehicles at Leapmotor’s factory in Zaragoza, Spain. Deepening ties with China, which has arguably demonstrated unparalleled leadership on both the affordability and technology fronts, has naturally led to concerns that the automaker’s legacy in Western markets (Fiat in Italy, Jeep in the US) will be overridden. Catone dismissed such concerns, emphasizing that a Jeep built in China would remain “a real Jeep in every respect.” The strategy carries some relatively straightforward risks, most of which are related to EU policy. Stellantis is moving towards lower-cost overseas production at a moment when the bloc’s policymakers are weighing measures such as the proposed Industrial Acceleration Law, particularly to reduce reliance on overseas production.

Information: This content was prepared and published using AutomobileMagazine’s artificial intelligence-supported publishing system, in line with the information shared by international automotive manufacturers and reliable press sources.