In a major step towards reindustrialization and economic recovery in Catalonia, the Chinese automobile group Chery has agreed to produce up to 150,000 vehicles in the old facilities of Nissan in the Barcelona Free Zone. This agreement will facilitate the recovery of up to 1,250 jobs and allow for the production of 50,000 vehicles by 2027.
EV Motors, a joint venture owned by Ebro, will invest 400 million euros in the project that will begin rolling out this year with the production of vehicles before the summer, starting with the Omoda 5 model in both combustion and electrical variants. The project plans to expand production processes to include local suppliers and create job opportunities for around 150 employees initially.
The alliance between EV Motors and Chery marks a significant milestone following Nissan’s closure of its facilities in Catalonia in 2020. During a signing ceremony attended by various officials, including Pedro Sanchez, President of Spain, and Jordi Hereu, Minister of Industry and Tourism, EV Motors CEO Pedro Calef announced this new partnership.
The Spanish brand Ebro will also be reborn in the last quarter of the year when cars from its factory are added to production. Future plans involve creating an R&D center in Barcelona dedicated to adapting models for the European market. The government officials emphasized that this agreement is crucial for Spain’s ability to adapt to global challenges and its commitment to Barcelona as an industrial hub.