On Friday, Chery and Ebro signed the agreement to produce 50,000 vehicles annually by 2027 at the former Nissan facilities in the Zona Franca of Barcelona, with plans to reach 150,000 by 2029.
The agreement was ratified by Ebro’s CEO, Pedro Calef, and Chery’s International Vice President, Zhang Guibing, at an event attended by the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez; the President of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès; the Vice Governor of Anhui Province in China, Shan Xiangqian; Minister Jordi Hereu; and Counselor Roger Torrent, among others.
For President Sanchez, this initiative is a “symbol” of Catalonia and all of Spain’s industrial revival.
The initial project involves hiring about 150 workers, currently undergoing training, but it aims to eventually recover up to 1,250 jobs.
This concludes the plant’s industrialization process, which began in December 2021 when Nissan vacated the premises.
Zhang stated that the agreement “not only represents a partnership between the two companies but also a strategic cooperation between two countries,” expressing their commitment to the local community’s well-being and the environment.
Calef noted that “Chery and Ebro’s commitment to this factory is total” and thanked the authorities, social partners, and workers for their involvement in the negotiations for the plant’s industrialization.
He also mentioned that the establishment of a joint venture by both companies marks “a new moment” for Europe, as it’s the first of its kind on the continent involving a Chinese automaker.
What are the production phases of the Chery-Ebro agreement?
Guibing explained that they aim to become “one of Chery’s main export bases worldwide,” but first, they need to establish a vehicle and components industrial park in the Zona Franca, a process they plan to undertake gradually.
Calef also mentioned they will explore the construction of an R&D center by the end of the year.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, they will begin production with Chery’s Omoda 5 models (the first electric model from the brand, alongside a combustion one), followed later in the year by two SUV models from Ebro (one mid-size and one mid-high size), sharing a platform and technology with Chery.
Production will start in two phases to expedite it: initially, assembly will take place at the factory, with plans for “the near future” to also include welding, painting, and assembly processes at the factory, for which the companies plan to involve local suppliers.
Distribution will rely on a network of dealerships, with 30 sales points available at launch, along with necessary aftersales facilities to ensure service provision.
