Chery Group starts production in Barcelona

Chery Group, a Chinese automaker, will begin manufacturing the Jaecoo 5 electric vehicle in Barcelona starting in early 2027. The company confirmed this during its presentation at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, stating that the Catalan plant will be used for the production of the Jaecoo 5.

Joint venture with EV Motors

The plant in Barcelona, previously owned by Nissan, will be operated by Chery Group in a joint venture with EV Motors. The site is already familiar to Chery, and the partners will first calibrate the equipment in December 2026 before starting full production in the first quarter of 2027.

Strategic expansion in Europe

The launch of the Jaecoo 5 marks a key step in Chery Group's plan to localize its production in Europe. According to Shawn Xu, the global president of Omoda & Jaecoo, the company is using the Barcelona plant to develop its range of vehicles, including plug-in hybrids and fully electric models like the Omoda 4.

Production goals and capacity

The production lines at the Barcelona plant are expected to reach a capacity of 200,000 cars per year by 2029. This is a significant increase compared to the sales of Chery Group's brands in Europe during the first eight months of 2026, which totaled just over 200,000 units.

New models unveiled at the Paris Motor Show

At the 2026 Paris Motor Show, Chery Group showcased several new models, including the European debut of the Omoda 5 and the French debut of the Omoda 4. The Chery brand also introduced five new models, including the first fully electric vehicle in its lineup, the Chery Q.

Focus on automation and European roads

Unlike some competitors, Chery Group has not announced plans for advanced automated driving features on open roads. According to Shawn Xu, European drivers tend to prefer manual control on complex and dense roads. However, the company is testing automated systems in Europe and may introduce them in the near future if regulatory approvals are obtained.