Stellantis and Chinese automaker Dongfeng have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to form a 51/49 joint venture that would sell, distribute, and potentially manufacture Dongfeng's premium Voyah EVs across Europe. The deal is notable because EU tariffs have effectively locked Voyah out of most of the continent since late 2024 — and the proposed solution involves building the cars in France instead of importing them from China.
Tariff wall, meet French factory
The EU began imposing countervailing duties (CVDs) — extra tariffs applied to subsidized imports — on Chinese-made EVs in October 2024, stacking up to 35% on top of the existing 10% baseline. That combination made Voyah's planned 2024 launch across Germany, France, Italy, and Spain commercially unworkable. Today, Voyah sells in Europe only in Norway and Switzerland, both of which sit outside the EU's tariff regime.
The Stellantis plan targets that problem directly. Producing Voyah models at Stellantis's Rennes plant in Brittany would qualify the vehicles as "Made in Europe," sidestepping the CVD regime entirely. The Rennes facility currently assembles the Citroën C5 Aircross on a single line — a legacy of a factory that once built more than 400,000 vehicles a year. Adding a Voyah line would fill idle capacity while giving Dongfeng a tariff-free path into EU showrooms.
What the deal actually covers
Under the proposed structure, the joint venture would handle sales, distribution, procurement, engineering, and manufacturing of Dongfeng's "new energy" vehicles — EVs and plug-in hybrids — in Europe. Stellantis's majority stake means it controls the operation; Dongfeng gets instant access to an established dealer and service network rather than building one from scratch.
The Voyah lineup includes the Free SUV, the Dreamer MPV, and the Zhiyin all-electric SUV. Voyah positions itself as a premium brand — the Free starts around €69,900 in Norway — placing it in different territory from the budget-focused Leapmotor brand that Stellantis already partners with in Europe.
Why this matters beyond Europe
The agreement also expands the other direction: Stellantis plans to build new Peugeot and Jeep EVs at a Wuhan, China, plant starting in 2027, aimed at global export. The two companies' existing Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën Automobile joint venture has produced more than 6.5 million vehicles combined over its lifetime.
The MoU remains non-binding, and the Rennes production decision hinges on economics and regulatory sign-off — neither of which is confirmed. Voyah has no announced US presence, and Section 301 tariffs (currently 100% on Chinese-made EVs) would make any direct US import path financially impractical, per InsideEVs and Electrive.
