China Sends 2,000 Workers to Build Battery Factory in Spain

Chinese battery giant CATL will send around 2,000 workers to Spain to build a €4 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Figueruelas, near Zaragoza, in a joint project with Stellantis, the Financial Times reports. The facility, next to Stellantis’s factory producing Opel, Peugeot, and Lancia vehicles, is expected to be operational by the end of 2026. CATL has pledged to recruit and train around 3,000 Spanish workers to run the plant, though unions and analysts warn of the company’s reluctance to share technology.

Headquartered in Ningde, southeast China, CATL is the world’s largest EV battery manufacturer, producing 80% of the world’s supply and supporting Chinese EV brands challenging Europe, North America, and Japan. Experts note that Beijing is strengthening China’s global industrial dominance while keeping other countries dependent on its production chains. European support includes €298 million in funding, with backing from both the Socialist government and the opposition Popular Party, though critics—including Vox—warn of geopolitical risks.

The CATL investment follows other Chinese expansions in Europe. CALB, another Chinese battery manufacturer, plans a €2 billion factory in Sines, Portugal, expected to be operational in 2028. Meanwhile, AESC Envision and Gotion are establishing battery plants in Spain and Germany, often in partnership with major automakers like Volkswagen.