EV Motors starts production of Ebro brand vehicles at its factory in Barcelona

EV Motors and Chery have formally announced the commencement of EBRO vehicle production at the Zona Franca factory in Barcelona, during an event led by the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Salvador Illa.

“Thanks to the collaboration between institutions, investors, and our partner Chery, we are manufacturing cars once again in the Zona Franca of Barcelona”

Rafael Ruíz, president of EV Motors

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The first vehicle to be produced at the factory will be the S700 SUV, followed by the S800 SUV in the coming weeks. Both are mid-size SUVs available with PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid) and combustion engines. They feature advanced technology and top-level safety standards, along with various driving aids. The goal is to position these models among the best-selling vehicles in their segment by 2025.

The commencement of production will create more than 500 direct jobs, increasing to 1,250 as operations expand.

Rafael Ruíz, president of EV Motors, stated during the official ceremony marking the start of production of the s700 SUV: “The EV Motors and EBRO project has had a clear purpose from the beginning: to revive and transform the automotive industry in our country. Thanks to the collaboration between institutions, trade unions, investors, and our partner Chery, we are proud to announce that we are manufacturing cars once again in the Zona Franca of Barcelona. The s700 SUV represents the beginning of a new era focused on reindustrialization, innovation, job creation, and the gradual shift towards sustainable mobility.”

Production will occur in two phases. In the first phase, vehicles will be assembled in the factory. Starting in 2025, welding, painting, and complete assembly processes will be added to the production line. This advancement will allow for the integration of local suppliers, which will in turn strengthen the value chain and positively impact the local industrial ecosystem.

The vehicles will be sold across Spain through a distribution network that currently includes over 45 confirmed points of sale. By the end of this year, 30 of these points will be operational. This distribution network will also provide after-sales services in line with the brand's comprehensive warranty programs.

New R&D center in Barcelona

EV Motors and Chery are exploring the possibility of establishing a joint research and development (R&D) center in Barcelona, similar to the one the Chinese group operates in Frankfurt, Germany. If this plan is confirmed, it would indicate that the partnership would encompass all elements of the automotive industry's value chain, with the center based in Spain.

Chery’s agreement with EV Motors

In April, the Chinese manufacturer Chery signed a joint venture agreement with the Catalan company EV Motors to produce electric cars in Barcelona. Chery’s production activities are set to begin in 2025, marking the company's first automotive plant in Europe. This deal makes Chery the first Chinese automaker to establish a factory in Europe and represents a €400 million investment in the plant located in Zona Franca, Barcelona, funded by both public and private sectors.

Source: EV MOTORS