Stellantis and Dongfeng, who have already operated a Chinese joint venture for 34 years, have announced the establishment of a new Stellantis-led and European-based joint venture which will undertake the role of selling and distributing EVs from Dongfeng’s ‘Voyah’ brand.
Voyah positions itself in the premium new energy vehicle space and has already made inroads in Europe independently, with three models currently on sale in Norway: two electric SUV/crossover models and a seven-seater electric MPV. These models give a strong indication of what could reach other European markets through the new venture.
The deal somewhat echoes Stellantis’ existing joint venture with Chinese EV manufacturer Leapmotor, which gives Stellantis distribution rights for Leapmotor vehicles outside China, bringing models such as the Leapmotor T03 to European showrooms on the back of Stellantis’ established network and experience in sales and after-sales. The same logic applies here, with Stellantis’ deep European presence giving the Voyah brand, a brand largely unknown to European buyers, a smoother route to market success.
Later down the line, the joint venture also intends to localise production, with a plan to produce Dongfeng NEVs at the Stellantis Rennes Plant in Northern France. This news comes just days after the duo also announced that a roster of Jeep and Peugeot-branded NEVs would be produced by Dongfeng in China, to be sold in markets across the world.
Antonio Filosa, Stellantis CEO, commented:
“The plans we are announcing today take our recently strengthened cooperation with Dongfeng to an all-new dimension of an international partnership to the benefit of customers around the world.
With this new chapter in our collaboration, we will give our customers an even greater choice of competitive products and pricing, leveraging the best of Stellantis’ global footprint alongside Dongfeng’s access to China’s advanced new energy vehicles ecosystem.”
Yang Qing, Dongfeng Chairman, added:
“Dongfeng will further strengthen and expand our partnership with Stellantis, closely aligning with China’s national strategies of high-level opening up, dual circulation, and stabilizing foreign investment, business, and employment.
This also meets both shareholders’ development needs. Through coordination in technology, branding, and global markets, it will unlock greater value from the joint venture, accelerate Dongfeng’s global expansion, support Stellantis’ global strategic shift and China presence.”
