The future Zaragoza battery gigafactory It has officially begun with the laying of its foundation stone in Figueruelas, just meters from the historic automotive plant currently operated by Stellantis. The project, promoted in conjunction with the Chinese giant CATL through the joint venture Contemporary Star Energy (CSE), is envisioned as one of the largest recent industrial developments in Spain and a key step in the transition to electric cars in Europe.
With a planned investment of 4.100 millones de euros And with the promise of thousands of jobs, the new factory not only reinforces Aragon's importance on the European automotive map, but also consolidates Stellantis' electrification strategy. Spanish and Chinese authorities have presented the initiative as a country project, with a strong symbolic charge and an evident long-term economic and technological impact.
An unprecedented investment for Aragon and for the Spanish automotive industry
The financial heart of the project is provided by joint venture Contemporary Star Energy, controlled by Stellantis and CATL. Its CEO, Andy Wu, has confirmed that 94% of the funds The remaining 6% will come from the joint venture itself, while the remaining 6% will come through public support, mainly in the form of aid linked to the PERTE for Electric and Connected Vehicles.
In total, the various calls for the PERTE VEC have allocated around 300 millones de euros to the gigafactory and the electrification of the Stellantis plant in Figueruelas. This combination of massive private financing and targeted public support has been presented as a open investment model, aligned with the idea of ​​European strategic autonomy but without closing the door to cooperation with partners like China.
The scale of the operation is significant: when the plant is operating at full capacity, it is estimated that its activity will involve around 5% of Aragon's GDPFor the regional government, which already experienced a turning point with the arrival of General Motors in the late seventies, this gigafactory is interpreted as a second major industrial milestone capable of reshaping the regional economic fabric.
The president of Aragon, Jorge Azcón, has stressed that in a context in which Other European factories are reducing production or closing down.Aragon is moving in the opposite direction, consolidating its car plant and ensuring its future competitiveness by having battery production literally "at the doorstep".
In terms of physical surface area, the project is also large-scale: it is estimated to be between 89 hectares and nearly 400.000 square meters of built areaThese facilities are part of an industrial complex that, including the Stellantis factory, covers well over 80 hectares. The decision to locate the gigafactory right next to the vehicle plant follows a clear logic: to minimize logistics costs and strengthen production synergies.
Capacity, schedule and technology: this is what the new plant will be like
The Figueruelas gigafactory is designed to become one of the Europe's most important battery installationsIndustrial planning points to an initial capacity of 50 GWh per year, with room to expand to 60 GWh if demand for electric vehicles justifies it. This capacity would allow for the equipping of approximately one million cars a year, placing Zaragoza in the league of major global plants.
The schedule anticipates that the first battery cells will come off the production line. at the end of 2026From there, the plant will gradually scale up: it is expected to reach approximately 30% capacity around 2028 and around 65% in 2029, with the goal of achieving full operation around 2030. These are tight deadlines but in line with other European mega-complexes of batteries.
In terms of technology, the factory will focus on batteries of the type LFP (lithium iron phosphate), a chemistry that sacrifices some energy density compared to NMC batteries in exchange for a significantly lower cost and a robust lifespan and end-of-life managementThis choice is not accidental: Stellantis wants to use these batteries for adjust the price of their electric vehiclesespecially in the small and medium-sized passenger car, crossover and SUV segments.
The batteries produced in Figueruelas will be installed in Stellantis Group vehicles, both at the Zaragoza plant itself and at other factories belonging to the consortium in Spain and the rest of Europe. Furthermore, the project will incorporate solutions such as the design Cell-to-Body, which integrates the cells directly into the vehicle structure, improving space utilization and, potentially, safety and dynamic behavior.
CATL has announced that advanced charging technologies capable of Recover up to 400 kilometers of range in very short timesAlready operational in the Chinese market, these technologies will also be introduced in Europe "as soon as possible." Although a precise timeline has not been established, the intention is for the Zaragoza gigafactory to be aligned with these innovations to maintain its competitiveness against other major manufacturers.
Impact on employment and the Aragonese industrial ecosystem
One of the most sensitive and at the same time most relevant aspects of the project is its impact on the labor market and the auxiliary industry in Aragon. The reference figure that is repeated in official statements places the number at around 4.000. direct jobs when the plant reaches full capacity, with estimates that raise the total number of direct, indirect and induced jobs to 7.000 during the construction phase.
Furthermore, both the regional government and industry representatives point out that each job at the Figueruelas plant generates several additional jobs in the auxiliary industry. It is currently estimated that Approximately 35.000 families in Aragon depend on the automotive ecosystem. linked to Stellantis, and the arrival of the gigafactory could activate new opportunities in electrical components, power electronics and advanced services.
The initial phase includes the planned arrival of Thousands of qualified technicians and operators from ChinaMany of them specialize in battery cell manufacturing. Information sent to the media suggests that around 2.000 Chinese workers could relocate to Aragon to support the construction and commissioning of the plant, which will require a significant logistical effort in housing and services in municipalities like Figueruelas, which has around 1.300 inhabitants.
Andy Wu has insisted, however, that CSE's intention is that the majority of the squad is localTo this end, the company is already working on agreements with universities, vocational training centers, and educational institutions in the area to create a "talent ecosystem" around the factory. It is planned that Some Spanish workers will be trained in ChinaMeanwhile, Chinese instructors and specialists will travel to Aragon to transmit knowledge about processes, quality and safety.
This collaborative training model aims to strengthen the plant's competitiveness in the medium term and position Aragon as a hub of knowledge in battery technologiesAt the same time, the intensive use of local suppliers is considered a key element: CATL already operates with local supplier networks in its gigafactories in Hungary and Germany, and everything points to it replicating that scheme in the Zaragoza area.
Strategic relationship between Spain and China in electric mobility
In geopolitical and economic terms, the Figueruelas gigafactory has become a visible example of the cooperation between Spain and China in high-tech sectors. The Chinese ambassador in Madrid, Yao Jing, has described the project as «the largest Chinese investment in the history of Spain" and has spoken of a "bright future" for the bilateral relationship.
On behalf of the Spanish government, the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, has insisted that this is a flagship project This aligns with the European vehicle fleet electrification strategy and the deployment of EU funds earmarked for electric vehicles. Hereu argued that Europe's strategic autonomy must be built from an "open" perspective, collaborating with partners like China to share technology and attract long-term productive investment.
This commitment comes in a context of profound transformation of the automotive sector, with the electromobility is gaining traction Registrations are down, and there is growing competition from new brands, including several Chinese ones, in the European market. In Aragon, for example, it is already clear that a significant portion of new cars sold come from Asian manufacturers, which has raised concerns about the need to strengthen local industrial capacity.
The alliance between Stellantis, with more than four decades of presence in the region, and CATL, a world leader in batteries for electric vehicles, is interpreted as a way of react to that change in the game plan ensuring that, at least in part, the electric vehicle value chain is located in Spain and Europe. Authorities have emphasized that millions of vehicles worldwide could be running on batteries produced in Figueruelas in the coming years.
Meanwhile, the central government has noted that Spain has already mobilized more than 2.500 billion euros in support for electric vehicles through various instruments, from the PERTE VEC program to other lines of support for investment and innovation. The creation of a Strategic Investment Committee also aims to facilitate the arrival of new industrial projects linked to the energy transition.
A change of industrial cycle for Figueruelas and for Europe
For many veterans of the Aragonese automotive industry, what's happening in Figueruelas is reminiscent of the arrival of General Motors in 1979, but adapted to the 21st century. The difference is that, now, the focus is on the battery as the heart of the electric car, a component that can represent up to 40% of the total value of the vehicle and that determines the competitiveness of the assembly plants.
Industry experts point out that having a gigafactory next to the car factory This can make a difference in costs compared to other European locations. Logistical savings, reduced lead times, and supply chain coordination allow the Figueruelas plant to strengthen its position within the Stellantis group at a time when other factories on the continent are facing reduced shifts, uncertainty, or closures.
Even so, no one denies that European industry is experiencing a complex restructuring processWith intense price competition and other markets moving quickly, the growing presence of Chinese brands in Spanish vehicle registrations serves as a reminder that the transition is not without risks and tensions, both in terms of production and employment.
In Aragon, there is confidence that the combination of investment, technology and support fabric This will help mitigate some of those risks by consolidating a value chain that not only manufactures batteries, but also components, software, and services associated with electric vehicles. The challenge for local companies will be adapting to an environment where electronics, advanced chemistry, and digitalization are playing an increasingly important role.
With the first stone now laid, the Zaragoza battery gigafactory is emerging as a key element in the new European industrial landscape: a facility that aims to produce millions of cells per year, which will be powered by a 80% renewable energywhich will generate thousands of direct jobs and, above all, anchors the automotive industry in Aragon in the midst of its transition to electric mobility.
