Spain's Ebro-EV Motors and China's Chery Automobile celebrate the start of vehicle production at their joint venture, the Ebro Factory, located in the Zona Franca of Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] 

A collaboration between Chinese automaker Chery and Spanish brand Ebro is helping the Southern European country to rebuild auto manufacturing capacity, it emerged this week.

Rapid output growth, strong job creation and a steady shift toward local supply chains have given the initiative unexpected momentum in its first year, business leaders said at an event to mark the anniversary of the partnership.

Launched at the former Nissan plant in the Zona Franca industrial zone, the partnership aims to restore local industrial activity and build a platform for new-energy vehicles tailored to the European market. Ebro Electric Vehicle (EV) Motors' achievements over the last year include selling more than 9,000 units in September, creating 1,000 direct jobs and over 3,000 indirect jobs, and meeting key milestones in Spain's reindustrialization strategy.

Ebro chairman Rafael Ruiz told Xinhua that the most complex task in the first year was restarting the assembly lines while integrating workers who had been waiting for reemployment since the previous plant was shut down. "Today we already have more than 1,000 people working at the plant," he added.

Ebro has also launched the s400, s700 and s800 models, and on Monday unveiled the s900, a plug-in hybrid Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) designed for Spain's expanding mid-range hybrid segment. By 2026, the company plans to begin producing Chery-branded models, including the Omoda line, as part of its next phase of expansion.

Monday's event focused on the project's forward trajectory: expanding production capacity, strengthening local component sourcing and preparing additional model lines. Earlier this year, Ebro's 1,371-kilometer single-charge challenge on Spanish roads drew wide attention among domestic EV users.

The company also announced that Spanish rider Laia Sanz and Italian co-driver Maurizio Gerini will represent Ebro at the 2026 Dakar Rally, one of the world's toughest endurance competitions. The team hopes the rally will prove the durability of its vehicles under extreme conditions, while enhancing Ebro's sporting profile globally.

Meng Yuhong, Consul General of China in Barcelona, said at Monday's event that the project has not only revived factory operations, but also showcased the potential for deeper industrial cooperation between China and Spain.

According to a recent analysis by KPMG, Chinese automakers' growing presence in Europe - especially through local production and joint ventures - is becoming an important factor in the region's reindustrialization and EV transition.

In this context, the progress made by the Chery-Ebro project in its first year is increasingly seen as part of a broader shift reshaping Europe's automotive landscape.