Chery is the first Chinese manufacturer to produce in Europe

On Friday, April 19, 2024, Chery and EV Motors announced the creation of a joint venture in the former Nissan factory in Barcelona. From the end of this summer, Chery wants to build an electric version of the Omoda 5 SUV (see photo gallery) there. Two more models will be added next year. But the manufacturer doesn’t just want to make electric cars in Barcelona, ​​​​​​​​but also combustion engines. By 2029, around 150,000 vehicles are expected to enter production each year.

A new beginning for Ebro

However, EV Motors is not leaving the production facility entirely to a manufacturer from the Far East. The old Spanish brand Ebro, which belongs to EV Motors, will produce there and will be revived in this way. Spain made a conscious decision to work with Chery from Anhui Province in China because the manufacturer has advanced technology and an innovative research and development system. With this agreement, Chery is ahead of its competitor BYD. He is currently building a factory in Szeged, Hungary, but production is not expected to begin until 2027.

The EU Commission is investigating

By manufacturing in the European Union, Chinese car manufacturers can avoid potential protective tariffs. An EU Commission investigation is currently investigating whether electric vehicles in China are benefiting from illegal subsidies. At the beginning of 2024, Chery had started selling its Omoda and Jaecoo brands in Spain. The German market launch of the SUV models is scheduled for the third quarter of 2024.

In the photo gallery you can see Chery Omoda 5 and Omoda 5 EV.