“The new battery cell assembly plant in Catalonia is fundamental for our company and accelerates the transformation towards becoming a hub for European electric mobility”
Wayne Griffiths, CEO of SEAT and CUPRA
Top International Auto players in Catalonia
Catalonia is one of the major automotive R&D and engineering hubs in Europe. The presence of manufacturers and an extensive network of auto suppliers are the reasons why multinationals choose Barcelona-Catalonia.
Catalonia thrives as an automotive manufacturing hub.
The automotive sector is a crucial part of Catalonia's economy and for a good reason. With a concentration of 22.1% of all automotive companies in Spain, Catalonia stands out as a manufacturing center for the automotive industry.
The region boasts all levels of the value chain, making it a major hub for automotive R&D and engineering in Europe. Additionally, Catalonia is a hub for IT solutions and software development for vehicles and mobility, emphasizing the region's commitment to innovation.
The region is a leading destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the automotive industry, ranking third in Western Europe for capital investment, second for job creation, and sixth in the number of projects between 2018 and 2022. This is a testament to the region's attractiveness as a location for automotive businesses.
Catalonia's dedication to R&D is evident in the numerous research centers specializing in the automotive industry. These centers develop technologies and materials for future vehicles and mobility, further cementing Catalonia's position as a hub for innovation. The region's Automotive Industry Cluster (CIAC) is also highly active, comprising 365 companies working together to enhance the industry's competitiveness.
Explore Catalonia's thriving automotive landscape, a gateway to global markets.
Top International Auto Players In Catalonia.
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CHERY
Chery is the leading vehicle exporter in China, with 937,148 million units exported in 2023. Chery will produce electric cars in Barcelona, its first European car plant, in a joint venture with the Catalan company Ebro EV-Motors.
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Lear
Lear has four production plants and over 1,000 employees in Catalonia, specializing in developing and manufacturing electrical and electronic systems and seats for brands such as BMW, Jaguar, and Volvo.
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SEAT/VOLKSWAGEN
Present in some 75 countries, SEAT’s over 14,000 employees in Catalonia design, develop, engineer, and manufacture more than 350,000 vehicles annually, with electric vehicle production beginning in 2025.
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FICOSA/PANASONIC
Ficosa/Panasonic manufactures advanced vision, security, connectivity, and efficiency electronic systems for the mobility sector in Catalonia with 2 plants. Its Technology Center in electronic and tech excellence here powers the Group’s R&D.
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BENTELER AUTOMOTIVE
With a workforce of 150 people in its Catalan factory, Benteler Automotive develops and manufactures chassis and module components, structures, exhaust pipes, and engine applications.
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MARELLI
Marelli designs and produces systems and components for the automotive sector out of Catalonia with a workforce of 1,200 and 3 production plants in Barberà del Vallès, Llinars del Vallès, and Santpedor.
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APPLUS+ IDIADA
With 1,500 professionals in Catalonia and Europe's most complete testing facilities, APPLUS+ IDIADA offers engineering and homologation services and test tracks mainly for the automotive sector.
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SMP AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY
The Indian multinational SMP has over 800 employees in Catalonia in its Spanish operational headquarters, as well as an engineering center and 3 manufacturing centers for dashboards, control panels, door panels, bumpers, and paint applications.
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GESTAMP
Gestamp specializes in designing, developing, and manufacturing metal components. With 1,400 employees, it has 6 production centers in Catalonia and an R&D center in Barcelona.
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WALLBOX
The Catalan unicorn, Wallbox, develops and manufactures electric vehicle charging technologies. With a daily production of almost 1,200 chargers, it has 2 production plants and its global HQ in Catalonia.
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MAGNA
The Canadian multinational Magna manufactures car rearview mirrors in Catalonia. General Motors, BMW, Ford, Volkswagen, Tesla Motors, Toyota, and Chrysler are among its most notable customers.
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