Stellantis and CATL’s gigafactory, “one of the most important projects in the world”

“It is one of the most important projects, not only in Europe, but in the world .” These were the words of the Minister of Industry, Jordi Hereu, after his visit to Stellantis and the land of the future gigafactory of the Chinese company CATL, where more than 4,000 million euros will be invested. Hereu, the head of Education, Pilar Alegría, and President Jorge Azcón were the protagonists of the particular starting gun of the battery factory this Friday, although today it is still an area of ​​80 hectares with no more life than bushes and some dry trees.

The work is expected to start at the end of the year, according to company officials, in accordance with the deadlines that Azcón announced a few days after the project was made official , which has already had a Declaration of Autonomous Interest and will have both its corresponding PIGA and the environmental impact statement. The preliminary work of clearing, cleaning and laying foundations on the plots would begin in June.

For the moment, the “pride” expressed by Jordi Hereu is already recorded after the initiative has come to fruition, largely thanks to the European funds provided by his Ministry. If, as he says, “the reindustrialisation of Europe is a necessity ”, for Spain and Aragon it also represents “ an opportunity ” to play a “primary role” in this process.

The former mayor of Barcelona has also praised the Stellantis plant , which was already “ the most competitive ” in the old continent before the alliance with CATL . Hereu has defined batteries as the “ driving core of 21st century mobility ” due to the progressive implementation of electric cars. If the ministerial official defended “the right to be very happy”, Jorge Azcón has not been left behind and wanted to praise the role of his predecessors, the factory workers and above all the performance of Industry, leaving aside partisan disputes with the Central Government.

“The work is worthy of praise, putting the general interest first. With this, we give a magnificent image ,” the leader of the DGA has highlighted. However, he believes that the most important day is yet to come. It will be when the first electric car is assembled with batteries from Figueruelas itself, something that could begin to happen in 2026, although the horizon of full performance and the production of up to one million units per year, with a turnover of 12 billion euros, would not arrive until 2028.

By then, the gigafactory, which was created with the aim of being carbon-neutral, an objective also pursued by the environment dedicated to vehicle manufacturing, will have all its infrastructure. The manufacturing of components, assembly and transport will take place there, both to the adjacent factory and to other points in Spain or Europe. The process will generate more than 3,000 direct jobs, with special importance for technological profiles. “ Mechanical engineers will be important, but computer scientists, data specialists, those who will deal with technology, will also be important in the future,” Azcón added.

Among others, the Vice President of the DGA, Mar Vaquero, and the Government delegate in Aragon, Fernando Beltrán, attended Friday’s visit. All of them, in addition to Azcón and the ministers, participated in a meeting with the heads of Stellantis and CATL, where they were able to learn the details of the project.