Chery Starts New Production Line in Spain, in Talks to Manufacture Nissan Models in the UK

On June 22, Spain's Ebro Automotive Group announced the official launch of the M1 production line at the Ebro factory, a joint venture with Chery in the Barcelona Free Trade Zone.

The production line spans 696 meters, features 97 workstations, and has a production cycle of 75 minutes per vehicle. It is currently used to produce various powertrain versions of the S400 and S700 models. The line is designed to accommodate five different models for mixed production and has reserved capacity for the pure electric vehicle models planned for launch in 2027.

This production launch is part of Ebro Automotive Group's overall investment of over 150 million euros, primarily allocated to factory modernization and intelligent upgrades. The factory has already deployed over 200 industrial robots and is gradually introducing welding and painting processes.

Rafael Ruiz, President of Ebro Automotive Group, stated that choosing a Chinese company as a technology partner aims to introduce new automotive technologies and industrial expertise to Spain, transforming them into local industrial capabilities and job opportunities.

In another key European market, the UK, Chery International UK recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nissan Motor. The two parties are advancing a feasibility study for Nissan's Sunderland plant to produce passenger cars for Chery. If a final agreement is reached, the relevant models could begin production on the Sunderland plant's Line 1 as early as the 2027 fiscal year.

Nissan's Sunderland plant, with over 6,000 employees, is one of the largest vehicle production bases in the UK, primarily manufacturing models such as the Qashqai and Juke.