【Text by Observers Network, Pan Yuchen; Editor by Gao Xin】On the evening of November 26 local time, a battery factory jointly built by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL) and Stellantis Group in Spain was officially laid the foundation.

The factory is located in the small town of Freginals in the Aragon region in northeastern Spain, with an investment of 4.1 billion euros (approximately RMB 33.68 billion), which is the largest investment by a Chinese enterprise in Spain, and has received 300 million euros (approximately RMB 2.46 billion) in EU fund support. It will train up to 4,000 workers, and is expected to be put into operation by the end of 2026, supplying batteries for Stellantis's automobile factories.

CATL's Spanish factory groundbreaking ceremony, Visual China

Spain is the second-largest automotive producer in Europe. Due to lower labor costs and industrial energy prices that are about 20% lower than the EU average, Spain has positioned itself as a battery center in Europe. The country plans to build three more factories, including projects from Envision AESC, PowerCo, and InoBat.

In recent years, Spain has established a close trade relationship with China. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Spain. From November 10 to 13, King Felipe VI of Spain visited China, aiming to strengthen cooperation between the two sides in areas such as trade, industry, technology, and green energy.

Ereú, the Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism who attended the groundbreaking ceremony of CATL's factory, also stated that Spain is willing to cooperate and build with countries around the world, especially China.

Currently, the European automotive industry is pushing for stricter requirements for local procurement of components, and the European Commission is preparing to introduce a new set of policies to support the industry.

However, David Romeral, General Secretary of the Automotive Enterprise Network of Aragon (CAAR Aragon), said that Spain lacks technical knowledge in battery production and has never manufactured related components before. Romeral stated that Chinese battery technology is "several years ahead" of Spain, and what Spain can do is observe and learn.

Reuters reported that Wu Qi, CEO of the joint venture between CATL and Stellantis - Star Energy Technology Co., Ltd., refused to confirm reports that up to 2,000 Chinese workers would go to Spain during the construction phase, stating that the company is still selecting subcontractors and is open to hiring locals.

Wu Qi said that CATL also plans to cooperate with local universities to train Spanish workers, and will send some employees to the manufacturing base of CATL in China for additional training. A spokesperson added that the proportion of Chinese employees will eventually fall below 10%.

José Juan Arceiz, Secretary-General of the UGT union, also said that as the factory expands, Spanish workers will get more job opportunities.

"Previously, it was mainly German technology, now it is Chinese technology. What's the difference? In Spain, we always provide labor." Roque Ordovás Mangirón, Stellantis shipping manager, said.

Yin Xiaoying, Director of CATL's overseas public affairs, also said that battery production involves advanced technologies and operational expertise accumulated over many years. CATL's goal is to "make this cutting-edge technology accessible to everyone."

This article is an exclusive article by Observers Network. Without permission, it cannot be reprinted.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7577294458392232482/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author. Welcome to express your attitude by clicking on the 【Up/Down】 button below.