Chinese Carmaker Chery Says Spanish Plant To Be Among Main Export Facilities Worldwide

Chinese carmaker Chery said on Friday a newly-acquired Barcelona plant will be one of its main exporting facilities worldwide, aiming to produce 150,000 vehicles a year by 2029 in a joint venture with Spanish firm EV Motors.

Production will begin at the end of the summer at a plant that Japanese carmaker Nissan (7201.T), opens new tab shut down in 2021. Chery (CHERY.UL) will start production of its Omoda 5 electric vehicle (EV), and hire 150 former Nissan workers, said EV Motors’ chief executive Pedro Calef at the plant’s presentation.

Next year, two more models of vehicle will be produced and overall the plant will produce both EVs and combustion engine vehicles, he said, adding that both companies are committed to recovering up to 1,250 jobs that were lost with Nissan’s closure of the plant.