Catalan carmaker Ebro to expand Zona Franca plant by 60,000 square meters

Catalan carmaker Ebro will expand its production plant in Barcelona’s Zona Franca industrial zone by 60,000 square meters. 

The agreement was signed on Thursday between the Catalan company and Australian industrial property group Goodman, which manages the site. 

Ebro has seen a rise in sales and is boosting its logistics capacity in preparation for the arrival of Chinese car models from Omoda, expected by the end of this year. 

The company is based in the Zona Franca, a historic industrial hub that previously housed the Nissan plant. 

Now managed by Goodman, the site is set to receive an investment of over €120 million over the next two years to build what will become the largest multi-story logistics warehouse in Europe. 

Strategically located just two kilometers from the Port of Barcelona and close to both the airport and the city, the new facility will cover more than 135,000 square meters and is expected to create 2,000 jobs. 

"Today we are officially launching the commercialization of the space. Some clients have already expressed interest, and we expect to announce more in the coming months," said Ignacio Cuenca, Goodman’s director in Spain. 

Goodman aims to attract between three and five clients specializing in port logistics, taking advantage of the site's proximity to the port. 

“There is currently no available logistics space in the area. We believe this project will serve clients based in the port who are looking to expand or upgrade their warehouses,” Cuenca added. 

Goodman was officially awarded management of the land following a public tender process after Nissan announced its exit from Catalonia in 2020, a move that directly affected over 2,500 workers and 20,000 indirectly. 

In 2023, Chinese automaker Chery signed an agreement with Ebro to manufacture vehicles at the site. 

By the end of the decade, the plant could be producing up to 150,000 vehicles annually, marking the first time a Chinese car brand will manufacture cars in Spain.