Stellantis wants to open its Rennes factory to the Chinese group Dongfeng

Stellantis and Chinese automaker Dongfeng have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to create a European joint venture, 51% owned by Stellantis and 49% by Dongfeng, dedicated to sales, distribution, purchasing, and engineering in targeted European markets. The two partners also plan to assemble Dongfeng electric vehicles at the La Janais plant near Rennes, in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of France, in accordance with European regulations regarding local manufacturing.

This joint venture would be specifically tasked with distributing Dongfeng's Voyah brand premium electric vehicles in Europe, leveraging Stellantis' sales network and after-sales expertise. It would also house joint purchasing and engineering activities, designed to capitalize on the highly competitive Chinese electric vehicle ecosystem developed by Dongfeng.

A Breton site threatened with closure that would find a second wind

The La Janais site, whose future had been uncertain since the gradual reduction in production volumes in recent years, would thus regain an industrial purpose. Stellantis and Dongfeng also recently announced, within the framework of their long-standing joint venture in China, the production of new Peugeot and Jeep models for the Chinese domestic market and for export, thereby strengthening the cross-sector nature of their partnership.

The agreement comes at a particularly sensitive time in Europe regarding Chinese electric vehicles, as Brussels has imposed additional tariffs to curb their market penetration. By producing locally, Dongfeng would circumvent these tariff barriers while still meeting European origin criteria. Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa welcomed the agreement, which he said "gives a new dimension" to a "recently strengthened" cooperation with the Chinese partner, "to the benefit of customers worldwide."