Catalan Government strengthens ties with automotive giant Chery during a strategic visit to China

The Minister for Business and Labour of the Catalan Government, Miquel Sàmper, met with executives from the multinational car manufacturer Chery at the company's headquarters in the Wuhu region. The meeting aimed to strengthen the relationship between the Catalan government and the Chinese company and to learn first-hand about the company's plans and situation as it is in the process of setting up production in Catalonia.

The Minister of Business and Labour stated, "We are promoting a modern industrial policy focused on priority sectors, such as the automotive industry, where we are implementing the Electric Vehicle Promotion Plan". In this context, Sàmper noted, "We are supporting the Catalan automotive industry in its journey toward decarbonization, and China is a crucial partner in accelerating electrification in Catalonia". The Minister expressed confidence that "this visit could pave the way for joint initiatives between Catalan companies and leading Chinese companies in the battery industry and other vital sectors for the global energy transition".

“This visit could lead to collaborations between Catalan and Chinese companies in the battery industry and other key sectors for global energy transition”

Miquel Sàmper, Minister for Business and Labour of Catalonia

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In April 2024, Chery announced an agreement with EV Motors, the owner of Ebro and BTech, to produce Chery cars in Catalonia at the D-Hub, the former Nissan site in Barcelona's Zona Franca. Chery is one of the leading manufacturers in the automotive sector in China, with sales exceeding 2.6 million units in the country in 2024. The establishment of the Chinese company in Catalonia aligns with the electric vehicle promotion plan presented by the government last February.

Sàmper's trip is part of an initiative led by Catalonia Trade & Investment, the Business Competitiveness Agency of the Ministry of Business and Labour, through the China Desk. This initiative aims to enhance the attractiveness of investment projects from Chinese companies, particularly in the mobility and health sectors, focusing on production plants, headquarters, and technology centers.

The China Desk, located at the headquarters of Catalonia Trade & Investment in Barcelona, facilitates the dialogue between executives of global companies and local authorities and will also work in coordination with the agency's offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.

This mission to China will begin in Shanghai and, after passing through Wuhu, will continue through Chinese cities of reference in business, such as Liyang, Huizhou, and Dongguan, and will end in Shenzhen. More specifically, the agenda of the institutional trip includes further working meetings with Chinese companies such as EVE Energy, Dynanonic, or SMM Information & Technology (all three of which are focused on the battery industry).

The Minister of Business and Labour will also participate in various events to promote Catalonia in key sectors such as batteries and energy.

200 subsidiaries of Chinese companies in Catalonia

According to the latest data from the directory of foreign companies in Catalonia 2024 (.PDF document), prepared by Catalonia Trade & Investment, there are currently 200 subsidiaries of Chinese companies established in Catalonia. In recent years, China has experienced exponential growth, making it the third most important non-European country in terms of the number of subsidiaries in Catalonia, ahead of the United States and Japan.