In a major development for the Spanish automotive industry, Chinese automobile group Chery has signed an agreement to produce up to 150,000 vehicles in the old facilities of Nissan in the Barcelona Free Zone. The deal is expected to facilitate the recovery of up to 1,250 jobs and marks Chery as the first Chinese manufacturer to produce in Europe.
The project will involve a long-term investment of 400 million euros by Ebro Factory, a joint venture in which EV Motors is the majority partner. The production of vehicles will begin rolling out this year with the Omoda 5 model in both combustion and electrical variants. Future plans include expanding production processes to include local suppliers and creating job opportunities for around 150 employees initially.
The alliance between EV Motors and Chery represents a significant step towards reindustrialization and economic recovery in Catalonia, following the closure of Nissan’s facilities in 2020. In speeches, government officials emphasized the importance of the Spanish industry’s ability to adapt to global challenges and its commitment to Barcelona and Catalonia as industrial hubs, particularly in the automotive sector.
