Leapmotor International (a joint venture between Stellantis and Leapmotor) has strengthened its logistics cooperation with Italy’s Grimaldi Group, significantly scaling up the transport of vehicles from China to Europe. Over the past 18 months, nearly 100,000 cars have been shipped, including more than 20,000 units delivered in the first quarter of 2026 alone. To support rising volumes, the partners operated a structured program of 15 ocean voyages during Q1 2026, linking Chinese export hubs with major European ports such as Antwerp, Bristol, Valencia, Vigo, Setúbal, Livorno, Civitavecchia, and Gioia Tauro.
Shipments are carried out using Grimaldi Group’s modern Pure Car & Truck Carrier (PCTC) fleet, including vessels such as Grande Svezia, Grande Michigan, Grande Istanbul, and Grande Tianjin. These ships form part of a broader investment program in 17 next-generation PCTCs, each with a capacity exceeding 9,000 CEU. Designed in line with the maritime industry’s decarbonization goals, the vessels are ammonia-ready and intended to support the transition toward net-zero emissions by 2050. The partnership is further reinforced by Grimaldi’s extensive European port infrastructure, which spans nearly 6 million m² of equipped terminal space dedicated to vehicle handling, preparation, maintenance, and battery charging.
At the core of the collaboration is Leapmotor International’s integrated supply chain strategy, which synchronizes production in China with vessel capacity and European terminal availability. The system enables streamlined flows of more than 5,400 vehicles per single vessel call, supported by close coordination between shipping lines, terminal operators, inland transport providers, and customs authorities. According to Leapmotor International, logistics has become a critical competitive advantage in the automotive sector, with Grimaldi Group acting as a key partner in managing large-scale, complex cross-border supply chains efficiently and reliably.