The Spain Auto 2030 Plan has become the government's and the entire automotive industry's major commitment to ensuring Spain maintains its position as a global automotive powerhouse amidst the electric revolution. This comprehensive roadmap, the result of collaborative work between the government, ANFAC (the Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers), SERNAUTO (the Spanish Automotive Service), and other industry stakeholders, combines direct subsidies, regulatory changes, factory investment, and a significant boost to the charging infrastructure.
This plan goes beyond a simple subsidy program for buying electric cars: its ambition is to reshape the market, strengthen the industry, and accelerate the decarbonization of transport by 2030-2035. It includes 25 priority measures, several "plans within the plan"—such as Auto+ and Innovemos—and a significant injection of public and private funds that could reach between €36.000 billion and €39.000 billion, with the goal of increasing the sector's added value from around €85.000 billion to around €120.000 billion.
What exactly is the Spain Auto 2030 Plan?
The heart of the program is a national strategy to transform the automotive sector towards electrified vehicles, linking demand-side support, reindustrialization, R&D&I, digitalization, the circular economy, and new mobility solutions. It is conceived as a "national plan" to ensure Spain is well-prepared by the end of the decade in terms of the ecological transition and European emissions reduction targets.
President Pedro Sánchez officially presented the Spain Auto Plan 2030 on December 3, 2025 , after a year of negotiations with the sector. The idea is that many of its measures will begin to be implemented from 2026, with particular intensity in the period 2026-2030, but with an eye toward 2035, the date by which the sale of new combustion engine and conventional hybrid cars will cease in the EU.
This plan comes at a time when the automotive industry accounts for nearly 10% of Spain's GDP and some 2 million direct and indirect jobs . The country is the second largest vehicle manufacturer in Europe and consistently ranks eighth or ninth globally, producing around 2,4 million units annually, of which approximately 8 out of 10 are exported. The challenge is to make the leap to electrification without losing productive capacity or jobs.
In terms of quantitative objectives, the document aims to maintain those 1,9 million jobs linked to the value chain , increase production to around 2,7 million vehicles - with 2,4 million destined for export - and ensure that around 95% of the models manufactured are pure electric or plug-in hybrid by 2030-2035.
Furthermore, the plan aims to transform Spain from a mere assembly platform into a true hub for the design, production, and recycling of high-value batteries and components , with a greater emphasis on software, electronics, and advanced mobility technologies.
Structure based on three axes and 25 priority measures
The Spain Auto 2030 Plan organizes its 25 key measures into several blocks that cover industrial supply, vehicle demand, charging infrastructure, new connected mobility and the structural competitiveness of the Spanish economy.
On the supply side (measures A1 to A7), the focus is on the value chain: mining and refining of critical materials such as lithium, cell gigafactories, transformation of suppliers towards electrical components, technological diversification, attracting new electrified models to Spanish plants, strengthening R&D&I and creating a seal of “investments well made in Spain”.
The demand block (especially measures B1 and B2) seeks to build a strong domestic market for electrified vehicles , with a new aid program that replaces Moves III and a major communication campaign to combat misinformation about electric cars and improve their perception among consumers.
From measure B3 to B7, the plan focuses on the massive deployment of charging points , tax reforms to incentivize the installation of chargers, regulatory simplification, advanced energy planning and a real road signage crash plan to make finding a charging point as easy as locating a gas station.
Measures B8 to B12 prepare the transition to a more digital, cooperative and automated mobility ecosystem, with legal frameworks for connected autonomous vehicles, investments in CCAM (cooperative, connected and automated mobility) , standardization of Low Emission Zone criteria, and promotion of recycling and second life for batteries and components.
Major driving programs: Auto+, Innovemos and strategic autonomy plan
Within the broad umbrella of the Spain Auto 2030 Plan, several "star" programs stand out, structuring the investment effort and making a difference compared to the previous Moves scheme.
The first is the Automotive Strategic Growth and Autonomy Program , aimed at strengthening the supply chain from access to critical raw materials (A1) to the consolidation of a powerful network of electrical and electronic component suppliers (A3, A4, A5). The goal is to achieve significant lithium mining and refining volumes—on the order of tens of kilotons per year—by 2035 and to build battery cell production capacity that, in the most ambitious scenario, could reach around 200 GWh per year.
In parallel, the plan introduces the Innovemos Plan , a collaborative R&D support scheme involving manufacturers, suppliers, technology centers, and universities. This program prioritizes technologies with clear industrial viability: advanced batteries, power electronic components, software and connectivity for connected cars, as well as autonomous driving systems and new mobility services.
Another distinctive element is the creation of the "Well Invested in Spain" or "Made by Spain" seal, designed to certify projects that provide quality employment, technology transfer, high local content, and low emissions throughout the vehicle's entire life cycle. The intention is to make Spain more attractive for investments such as battery gigafactories (Sagunto, Figueruelas, Navalmoral de la Mata), new vehicle manufacturing plants, and the establishment of international groups like BYD.
To finance these efforts, the Government is continuing the PERTE Electric and Connected Vehicle (PERTE VEC) program , which has already channeled more than €3.000 billion in loans and grants in its first rounds and will receive at least an additional €580 million. This program has supported everything from the conversion of large factories to projects by SMEs and startups within the mobility ecosystem.
Auto+ Plan: new system of direct aid for purchases
One of the most anticipated changes in the Spain Auto 2030 Plan is the creation of the Auto+ Plan , the new program of direct aid for the purchase of electrified vehicles that will take over from Moves III from 2026.
The Auto+ Plan launches with an initial budget of €400 million in 2026 and maintains its philosophy of incentivizing pure electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), as well as certain zero- or low-emission light commercial vehicles. The major change is its management: subsidies will no longer be administered by the regional governments but will be managed centrally by the central government.
This centralization aims to eliminate the "territorial lottery" of the Moves III program, where a citizen could be left without assistance because their region had already exhausted its funds or because the application process took more than a year. The new model establishes a single national fund with uniform amounts, requirements, and deadlines for all applicants, regardless of where they live.
Furthermore, the Auto+ Plan is inspired by the experience of the Valencian Community's Auto+ Restart Plan , which managed to pay out subsidies in approximately one month and boosted electric vehicle registrations in the region—with increases of nearly 45% compared to the national average of 15%. The idea is to replicate this success nationwide, drastically reducing bureaucracy.
The amount of aid could reach up to €7.000 for certain electric vehicles , especially when an old car is scrapped, similar to the previous Moves program. This figure aims to significantly reduce the price difference between an electric vehicle and a combustion engine model, a key factor for families who see the initial cost as the main barrier.
Change in the processing model: payment at the dealership and digital control
One of the most innovative aspects of the Auto+ Plan is that the aid will be applied, in principle, directly at the point of sale , or will be paid within a very short period - on the order of three or four weeks - according to the various communications from the Government and the sector, pending its final publication in the BOE (Official State Gazette).
In practice, the procedure is simplified as follows: the buyer chooses a vehicle at the dealership that meets the requirements, the dealership itself processes the aid application as an intermediary with the administration, and the subsidy is deducted from the final price on the invoice or reaches the customer very quickly . The user no longer has to pay the entire amount upfront and wait between 6 and 18 months without knowing when they will receive the aid, as was the case with many Moves III applications.
This entire process will be supported by a digital management and monitoring system designed to ensure traceability, transparency, and efficiency. Electronic processing through centralized platforms will allow for better control of fund usage, prevent duplication, and minimize administrative bottlenecks.
In parallel, the Spain Auto 2030 Plan includes a national campaign to promote electrified vehicles , aimed at combating myths about range, battery degradation or supposed negative impacts, and explaining the real advantages in total cost of use, maintenance and air quality.
This mix of direct aid and communication aims to move Spain from a sales rate of electric vehicles well below the European average - barely around 10-12% market share in 2023 - to a scenario in which between 95 and 100% of new registrations in 2035 are electrified vehicles , meeting the EU's climate objectives.
Moves Corridors Plan and National Top-Up Plan
Another pillar of the Spain Auto 2030 Plan is the reinforcement of the public and private charging infrastructure , considered by the Executive itself as a key bottleneck: "there is a lack of infrastructure and too much bureaucracy."
In this context, the Moves Corredores program is being launched , a new aid program with 300 million euros to deploy charging points in the so-called "shadow zones" of the road network: sections of highways, roads and logistics hubs where there are still not enough chargers, especially high and ultra-fast power chargers.
The Moves Corridors program joins the Moves III, Moves Fleets, and Moves Singulars programs, through which more than €600 million has already been mobilized for infrastructure and hundreds of thousands of public and private charging points have been financed. Moves III alone has incentivized more than 140.000 charging points, and the public charging network for devices over 43 kW has grown by more than 50%, exceeding 40.000 points in service.
But the Auto Plan goes further by announcing a genuine National Plan for the deployment of charging infrastructure , coordinated between the central government, regional governments, and stakeholders in the ecosystem. This plan will set annual targets at the national, regional, and provincial levels, strengthen the role of the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Working Group (GTIRVE), and seek to ensure a balanced distribution between urban, suburban, and rural areas.
To make life easier for users and installers, a drastic reduction in the licenses and permits required to install new charging stations is promised, with measures such as declarations of responsibility, time limits for processing applications, and standard ordinance templates for municipalities. In addition, a single website for charging points has been created to provide up-to-date information and unify data.
Taxation, energy and industrial competitiveness
Beyond direct aid and charging points, the Spain Auto 2030 Plan incorporates a set of measures (C1 to C6) aimed at improving the competitive environment of the industry , from taxation to energy and logistics costs.
The tax chapter (C1) proposes strengthening tax deductions for R&D and technological innovation, providing greater regulatory stability to the tax framework, and exploring adjustments that favor industrial investments linked to electrification . Specific tax reforms are also being studied to promote the renewal of professional fleets, heavy vehicles, and public transport towards zero- and low-emission technologies.
Regarding energy (C4), the objective is to reduce electricity costs for the automotive industry, recognizing that the transition to electric vehicles implies a 30-40% increase in energy consumption at many plants. To achieve this, plans include including the automotive sector in state aid schemes, strengthening electricity transmission and distribution networks, and promoting access to renewable fuels such as biomethane or green hydrogen in industrial and logistics processes. Furthermore, measures such as off-peak electricity rates are being considered to lower the cost of charging and reduce industrial demand.
The logistics measures (C6) focus on improving rail-port connectivity and the efficiency of land transport , allowing larger masses and dimensions of transport vehicles where safe, with the aim of reducing times and costs for the export and import of vehicles and components.
Finally, greater integration of local content (C5) and official measurement of the carbon footprint of vehicles manufactured in Spain are being promoted , thus reinforcing the arguments of sustainability and proximity in a global market that is increasingly demanding regarding emissions throughout the entire value chain.
Talent, employment and transformation of the productive fabric
The Spain Auto 2030 Plan starts from a clear diagnosis: electrification changes the type of employment and qualifications needed in the sector , and it is essential to anticipate this in order not to leave anyone behind.
Therefore, a National Talent Plan (C2) is being launched to strengthen Vocational Training, Dual University programs, re-skilling and up-skilling programs, and the recruitment of international talent. The aim is to enable current automotive workers, from operators to engineers, to adapt to new production processes related to batteries, power electronics, software, and the maintenance of electric vehicles.
In parallel, initiatives are being introduced to improve labor productivity (C3) , with greater coordination between public health services, mutual insurance companies and the INSS when managing sick leave, and with social collaboration tools that allow for better organization of staff in a sector subject to strong demand cycles.
The Government and the sector are clear that the objective is not only to maintain the current 1,9 million jobs, but to take advantage of the transition to generate between 3.000 and 6.000 new quality direct jobs , linked to high value-added projects in batteries, software, connected mobility and the circular economy.
All of this is part of a vision of "cars Made by Spain ", in the words of Pedro Sánchez: not only producing vehicles in Spain, but designing them, developing the key technology and exporting knowledge and innovation.
Circular economy, recycling and Low Emission Zones
The sustainability of the Spain Auto 2030 Plan is not limited to exhaust emissions: it also addresses the complete life cycle of vehicles and batteries , as well as air quality in cities.
In the area of the circular economy, support is planned for battery recycling, reuse, and second-life plants (B11 and B12), as well as for the recovery of high-value components and materials. The aim is to leverage Spain's advantage of having both battery and component production and, in the future, recycling facilities within the country, thereby reducing dependence on foreign sources and fostering a new "circular value" industry.
Work will be done on a specific regulatory framework for recycling facilities , with clear rules of safety, responsibility and operation, so that companies can invest with certainty knowing that the most demanding European standards are met.
In urban areas, the plan aims to standardize the regulations for Low Emission Zones (LEZs) , which currently vary considerably between cities. The goal is to make access criteria, environmental categories, and vehicle requirements as consistent as possible, reducing confusion for citizens and businesses traveling between different municipalities.
Looking ahead, a growing restriction on older, more polluting vehicles in city centers is planned, starting with those without an environmental sticker and progressively affecting vehicles with a B sticker during certain times of day. From 2028 onwards, restrictions will extend to a much broader range of Low Emission Zones (LEZs). All of this, combined with the subsidies offered by the Auto+ Plan, aims to accelerate the transition to cleaner vehicles without leaving users without alternatives.
With this entire framework of measures—from the direct subsidies of the Auto+ Plan, the rollout of the Moves Corridors program and the National Charging Plan, to the PERTE VEC program, the Innovemos Plan, the strategic autonomy program, tax and energy improvements, and the commitment to talent and the circular economy—the Spain Auto 2030 Plan outlines one of the most ambitious industrial transformations in the country's recent history . Its success will depend on the speed of implementation, coordination between government bodies, and the ability of businesses and citizens to seize the opportunities it offers: more affordable electric cars , a dense and reliable charging network, and an automotive industry prepared to compete head-to-head in the new global mobility landscape.
