Get ready, Europe. The flow of electric cars from China is picking up serious speed. Just as the BYD Shenzhen made headlines, another massive vessel is gearing up for its maiden voyage. This new silent giant is named the Grande Tianjin. It’s about to set sail from Shanghai, carrying 2,500 electric vehicles from the automaker Leapmotor directly to Europe.
Leapmotor isn’t just shipping cars; they’re sailing into a new era of global reach. This big move happened thanks to a deal with Grimaldi, a major shipping company. Since 2022, Grimaldi has promised fixed monthly shipping space for thousands of Leapmotor vehicles. These cars travel all the way from Asia to Europe. The Grande Tianjin is set to depart on August 19, bringing its 2,500 electric cars to the continent. Grimaldi handing over the ship to Leapmotor was like an “official christening.” It marked the start of what everyone expects to be a very successful partnership.
It’s important to note that Leapmotor doesn’t actually own this huge vessel. Grimaldi is the one investing heavily in this new transport method. They ordered seven new Pure Car and Truck Carriers, or PCTCs. These massive ships are meant to boost the supply of vehicles to Europe from Asia. The Grande Tianjin is the very first one in this new series. Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) built it. This ship is designed to be “ammonia-ready” for future fuels. It can carry around 9,000 cars on each trip.
Tianshu Xin, who leads Leapmotor International, shared his thoughts on this global shift. He said that Chinese EV innovation is truly sailing around the world. Leapmotor is proud to be at the front of this movement. He added that thanks to great partners like Grimaldi, Leapmotor is now active in over 30 countries. They have more than 1,500 sales and service points globally. So far, they’ve delivered over 800,000 smart electric cars. This quote came from a press release by Stellantis.
Leapmotor was not very well-known outside of China before. However, their partnership with Stellantis aims to change that. In 2023, the two companies teamed up to create Leapmotor International. This is a joint venture where Stellantis owns a 51% share. Their main goal is to sell Leapmotor models to customers outside of China. Europe is the very first market they are targeting.
The Leapmotor B10 Kicks Off the Grande Tianjin’s Journey
The star of the Grande Tianjin’s first big trip is the Leapmotor B10. This is a compact electric SUV. It’s built on Leapmotor’s newest platform, called LEAP3.5.
The B10 offers two different battery choices. One battery gets you up to 361 kilometers (about 224 miles) of range. The other goes even further, reaching 434 kilometers (around 270 miles). Besides its range, it also has fast charging capabilities. Drivers will enjoy 17 advanced systems that help them drive. The smart display inside the car also changes to fit what the user needs.