Chinese car manufacturer Chery to open R&D center in Cornellà 

The Chinese car manufacturer Chery will open an R&D center in Cornellà de Llobregat, near Barcelona, in 2025. 

The announcement was made on Wednesday by Catalan president Salvador Illa following a meeting with the company's president, Yin Tongyue, in China. 

The new center will cover an area of 2,000 square meters and will specialize in vehicle design and adaptation to meet the needs of European consumers. 

One of its key focuses will be the customization of car bodies for the European market. 

Additionally, Illa offered the Chinese carmaker the opportunity to establish its European headquarters in Barcelona. 

The R&D center is expected to begin operations this fall.

Memorandum

During the meeting in Wuhu, Catalonia's business minister, Miquel Sàmper, and Chery's vice president, Zhang Shengshan, signed a memorandum reaffirming the Catalan government and Chery's commitment to continued collaboration.

According to the agreement, the Catalan government will support and promote investments by companies within Chery's supply chain and facilitate connections with talent hubs and universities.

It also includes a commitment to explore the possibility of offering subsidies.

In return, Chery has pledged to continue investing in Catalonia and to explore new economic opportunities in the field of sustainable mobility.

President Illa stressed the importance of strengthening Chery's presence in Catalonia, highlighting the company's significance not only in the automotive sector but also in robotics.

The opening of an R&D centre in Catalonia is "very significant," he said, adding that it would also help build ties with the academic sector.

 

Cornellà praises decision

The Cornellà de Llobregat city council praised the decision by Chery to set an R&D center in the city.

The decision "becomes a strategic push for industrial and financial development," local authorities said.

Politicians cite that the arrival of Chery "strengthens" companies focused on innovation and technology.

Catalonia proposed as European headquarters

President Illa also extended an offer for Chery to establish its European headquarters in Barcelona. He argued that the proposal "makes sense," given the company's existing production plant in Barcelona's Zona Franca and its decision to create an R&D centre in Cornellà.

However, he made clear that the final decision lies with the company and assured that Catalonia's relationship with Chery does not hinge on the location of its European headquarters.

Agreement with EV Motors

Last year, Chery reached an agreement with EV Motors – owner of the Ebro and BTech brands – to manufacture vehicles at the former Nissan factory in Barcelona's Zona Franca.

Chery is one of China's leading car manufacturers, having sold more than 2.6 million units in 2024.

It operates in over 80 markets worldwide and has remained China's top-selling brand internationally for 22 consecutive years.

Catalonia-China trade relations

Over the past five years, Chinese foreign direct investment in Catalonia has reached almost €1.3 billion, resulting in the creation of more than 2,300 jobs, according to figures from ACCIÓ (Catalonia Trade & Investment). Around 200 subsidiaries of Chinese companies operate in Catalonia.

Catalan exports to China totaled over €1.8 billion in 2024. More than 1,250 Catalan companies regularly export to China, and over 280 have established subsidiaries there.