Chery, a leading Chinese automobile group, is set to establish a joint venture with EV Motors in the old facilities of Nissan in Barcelona’s Free Zone. The partnership will allow for the production of up to 150,000 vehicles by 2029, with 50,000 expected in 2027. This will result in the recovery of approximately 1,250 jobs. Pedro Calef, CEO of Ebro (EV Motors), made the announcement at the official signing of the alliance that makes this company the first Chinese manufacturer to produce in Europe.
The project will begin rolling out this year with the production of vehicles from Omoda, one of Chery’s brands. Initially, vehicles will be assembled under the formula DKD (Direct Knock Down), where large pieces will arrive ready-made at the plant for assembly. Future plans include transitioning to CKD (Complete Knock Down) and involving local suppliers. The initial phase will employ 150 employees. Later in the year, cars from Ebro (the reborn Spanish brand) will also be added to the production line. Among the plans is creating an R&D center in Barcelona dedicated to adapting production for European markets.
In his institutional speeches, Pedro Sanchez emphasized “the capacity of Spanish industry to reinvent itself and adapt to global challenges.” He expressed his government’s commitment to Barcelona and Catalonia as an industrial hub, especially in the automotive sector. Guibing highlighted that once the factory reaches scale, it will become a major export point for Chery worldwide. The closure of Nissan’s facilities during COVID-19 affected many jobs and suppliers in Catalonia. This partnership between EV Motors and Chery marks a significant development for Spain’s automotive industry and its economic recovery efforts after pandemic hit regions like Catalonia hardest
