Cars, China’s Chery prefers Spain to Italy: close to opening the first European factory in Barcelona

The government is looking for Chinese car manufacturers that they are coming to produce in Italy, to compensate for the decline in Stellantis production, but Asian companies seem to be looking elsewhere. Chinese car manufacturers Chery Autoaccording to what is seen Reuters, is about to complete a plan to start manufacturing cars in Spain. One in the Iberian country will be its first production site in Europe.

Chery aims to produce in Barcelona with public incentives

On Thursday 19 April the government of Madrid and the Chinese group can already make official investments that will be supported by public incentives. Chery is expected to start production in Barcelona, ​​​​under the brands Omoda and Jaecoo, to acquire the plant that Nissan closed in 2021, a factory with around 1,600 employees. Spain will issue two tenders totaling 1.7 billion euros this year aimed at companies seeking loans and subsidies for the production of electric vehicles under a program called Perte. Chery’s investment would fall within this incentive scheme.

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Chery was in talks with Italy, but chose Spain

Chery is one of the various Chinese car manufacturers that bring low cost, especially electric cars to Europe and, according to various sources, is one of the entities that the Italian government, especially the Ministry of Commerce of Adolfo Urso, discusses: the attempt is to attract another major car manufacturer to Italy, in front of Stellantis which is increasingly committed to the country. Despite the potential investment now in Spain, Chery is still in contact with the Italian authorities, he reported Reuters an industry source who asked not to be named, but the Chinese company has received little comment from Italy, while talks are proceeding more quickly with Spain. (All rights reserved)