Chinese multinational Chery will open an R&D center in Catalonia
Business Investments
30 Jul 2025
Chery to open a 2,000 m² R&D center in Catalonia to design and adapt vehicles for Europe, supported by Catalonia Trade & Investment.
The Chinese multinational Chery will open an R&D center in Catalonia in 2025. This was announced by the President of the Catalan Government, Salvador Illa, after meeting with the chairman of Chery Group, Yin Tongyue, at their headquarters in Wuhu, as part of the institutional mission to China this week.
This investment project by Chery in Catalonia has been facilitated and supported by Catalonia Trade & Investment, the agency for business competitiveness within the Department of Business and Labour, specifically through the China Desk, an initiative aimed at increasing the attraction of investment projects to bring production plants of Chinese origin to Catalonia.
From the new facilities, located in Cornellà de Llobregat (Barcelona) and spanning 2,000 m², Chery will provide support to the group on a global scale. Specifically, the center will focus on the design and upgrade of vehicles to cater to the future needs of European users, including functionalities like body adjustments (restyling), among others. The new center will begin its activity this autumn.
Chery's commitment to Catalonia
In April 2024, Chery announced an agreement with EV Motors to manufacture cars in Catalonia at the D-Hub, the former Nissan location in Barcelona's Zona Franca. This initiative is backed by Chery Group, one of China's leading automotive manufacturers, which achieved sales exceeding 2.6 million units in 2024 and also surpassed a total of 5 million units in exports this year. The company operates in over 80 countries worldwide and has maintained its position as the top-selling Chinese brand in overseas markets for 22 consecutive years.
Chery and EV Motor's collaboration is a relevant project for Catalonia, as it concerns a strategic sector such as the automotive sector and, in particular, the promotion of sustainable mobility. As a flagship project, the EBRO brand has already become one of the fastest-growing brands in the Spanish market. In this regard, the establishment of the Chinese company Chery and its expansion projects in Catalonia will contribute to reindustrialization and align with the deployment of the Electric Vehicle Promotion Plan presented by the Government last February.
Trade relations between Catalonia and China
Over the last five years, foreign investment in Catalonia from China has reached 1,279 million euros, with projects that have led to the creation of more than 2,300 new jobs, according to data from Catalonia Trade & Investment, cited by the Financial Times' fDi Markets. There are currently 200 subsidiaries of Chinese companies established in Catalonia.
On the other hand, Catalan exports to China totaled 1,829 million euros in 2024. More than 1,250 Catalan companies regularly export to the Chinese market, and over 280 Catalan companies have subsidiaries in China.
The China Desk
In 2024, Catalonia Trade & Investment launched the China Desk to enhance the attractiveness of Chinese investments in Catalonia and foster a deeper understanding of Chinese business culture. This office, located at Catalonia Trade & Investment's headquarters in Barcelona, works in coordination with the agency's Foreign Trade and Investment Offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
The China Desk serves as a one-stop shop for Chinese investors, providing personalized support tailored to their specific needs and the unique characteristics of their business culture. Among the services it offers are strategic information for decision-making, comprehensive management of investment projects, support in business location, fast-track mobility for managers, advice on incentives, and other tailored services.
