Stellantis and the Dongfeng Group have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen their partnership by creating a joint venture in Europe. The joint venture will handle several key business functions, including sales and marketing, manufacturing, procurement, and engineering for NEVs (new energy vehicles) produced by the Dongfeng Group.
Initially, the joint venture company will help the Dongfeng Group launch its Voyah brand electric vehicles in select markets across Europe, as well as manufacture them locally in France.
Joint Venture Plans of Stellantis and Dongfeng: An Overview
According to the agreement, Stellantis and Dongfeng plan to form a joint venture in Europe, with Stellantis as the lead, under a 51:49 shareholding ratio.
The proposed joint venture will handle the sales and distribution activities of Dongfeng’s high-end electric car marque, Voyah, in certain European countries. It is anticipated that Stellantis will bring to the table its current sales channels and post-sale services in Europe, while Dongfeng will be contributing its electric car technologies and logistics infrastructure developed in China.
Aside from sales, the joint venture will also handle joint purchasing and engineering activities.
Why Does Voyah Want to Expand into Europe?
Voyah is one of Dongfeng’s electric marques and also plays a crucial role in the company’s internationalisation strategy. The proposed venture aims to help Dongfeng expand further in Europe through Stellantis’ established infrastructure there.
It is a testament to the increasing collaboration between European and Chinese automakers in electric cars. European automakers have been actively seeking access to China’s EV technology ecosystem, while Chinese manufacturers seek established sales networks and manufacturing bases in Europe.
The companies announced that the joint venture was made to offer more options to consumers in Europe.
Is It Possible To Manufacture Dongfeng Vehicles In France?
As part of the deal, Dongfeng and Stellantis plan to locally produce the Dongfeng-made vehicles at the Rennes production facility in France.
According to the firms, the plans were part of the company’s effort to meet the “Made-in-Europe” demands and manufacturing regulations in the region. The production of vehicles in Europe may be beneficial for cost savings and efficient supply chains.
Nevertheless, the plans will depend on the completion of additional arrangements.
How Will This Extend the Current Relationship Between Stellantis and Dongfeng?
The current developments follow a long-standing relationship between the two firms that spans several decades. Back in May 2026, Stellantis and Dongfeng signed another partnership agreement to strengthen the Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën Automobile Co., Ltd. joint venture in China.
Under the agreement, plans are to manufacture new models of Peugeot and Jeep electric vehicles at the Wuhan production facility starting in 2027.
According to the companies, the DPCA joint venture has delivered over 6.5 million Peugeot and Citroën cars since its inception.
What Will Happen After the Creation of the Joint Venture?
So far, the creation of the joint venture in Europe is still under development, pending further agreement terms, regulatory approval, and other usual closing conditions.
Neither the company has provided pricing information for Voyah cars in Europe, nor do they yet know when production at the Rennes plant will begin, nor which specific European markets will be targeted initially.
