Overview
Chery has confirmed it still expects to start producing vehicles at its Barcelona factory this year, with a senior company executive saying the process will begin "as soon as possible." The announcement follows a sequence of postponements for what will be Chery's first European manufacturing site.
Timeline and delays
The firm acknowledged a fresh delay that pushes production later into 2026, building on an earlier move that had shifted the start date to the fourth quarter of 2025. Company statements cited commercial reasons for the earlier postponement, including European Union tariffs applied to Chinese-made electric vehicles. Chery had originally planned to begin manufacturing in Barcelona in 2024.
Plant, partners and models
The Barcelona facility sits on the grounds of a former plant previously operated by Japanese automaker Nissan. The operation is structured as a joint venture between Chery and Spanish carmaker Ebro. Ebro is already assembling cars using shared production platforms and technology with the venture. The Spanish partner had halted sales in 1987 and relauched in 2024.
Chery has said the Barcelona site will produce its Omoda 5 SUV in both electric and internal-combustion variants. The company also plans to add the Jaecoo 7 to the plant's lineup at a later stage.
Executive comments and export plans
Chery's executive vice president and chief executive for the European Union region, Zhu Shaodong, said the company was still "revving up" its Barcelona plans but expressed confidence that production would start this year. When asked which quarter production would begin, he declined to specify and reiterated it would be "as soon as possible." Zhu made his remarks at an event held in Madrid and indicated the company plans to use the Barcelona plant for exports to Latin America.
Capacity target
The Chery-Ebro venture stated in 2024 an ambition to reach an annual production capacity of up to 150,000 vehicles by 2029, and to position the Barcelona factory as a major export hub for Chery.
Key points
- Chery reaffirms intent to begin production in Barcelona this year, saying it will start "as soon as possible."
- The project has experienced successive delays - with production now pushed into 2026 after an earlier shift to late 2025 - and commercial factors including EU tariffs on Chinese EVs were cited for previous postponements.
- The Barcelona joint venture with Ebro is set to make Omoda 5 SUVs (electric and combustion versions) and later the Jaecoo 7, with export plans to Latin America and a target capacity of up to 150,000 vehicles a year by 2029.
Risks and uncertainties
- Further timetable slippage - production has already been pushed back multiple times and the firm did not commit to a specific quarter for start-up.
- Commercial headwinds - previously cited reasons for delay included EU tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, which remain a market uncertainty for the venture.
Impacted sectors
The developments affect the automotive and manufacturing sectors directly, with implications for EV makers, parts suppliers and export logistics networks tied to the Barcelona plant.