*

Assembly of Leapmotor's T03 at Tychy plant ended on March

30

*

Stellantis ( STLA ) says it is 'evaluating different production

options'

*

Poland backed EU tariffs on Chinese EVs

(Adds details, context in paragraphs 3, 5-6)

MILAN, April 8 (Reuters) - Stellantis ( STLA ) has

stopped making its Chinese partner Leapmotor's T03

small electric car in Poland and is assessing alternative

production options, the Franco-Italian automaker said on

Tuesday.

The group "is no longer assembling Leapmotor's T03 model at

the Tychy plant, in Poland, since March 30," it said in a

statement.

"While the company remains fully engaged in the launch of

Leapmotor vehicles in Europe, at the moment it is evaluating

different production options," Stellantis ( STLA ) said, without

providing further details, including whether the model might be

relocated to another European plant.

The production halt was first reported on Monday by French

newspaper Les Echos.

Stellantis ( STLA ) did not say what caused the decision to stop T03

assembly. Last year, the company and its Chinese partner

scrapped plans to build in Poland a second Leapmotor model, the

B10 electric crossover.

That decision came after the Chinese government privately

told automakers to pause big investments in European countries

that backed extra European Union tariffs on Chinese-made EVs,

sources told Reuters in November.

Poland was among the EU countries that supported tariffs.

Spain, which abstained on EU tariffs, is now favoured for

the production of the Leapmotor B10 EV.

Stellantis ( STLA ) has a 51% stake in the Leapmotor International

joint venture with its Chinese partner, with exclusive rights to

export, sell and manufacture Leapmotor EVs outside China.