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China's Chery to delay Barcelona production start to Q4 2025, Spanish partner states

Chinese carmaker Chery will postpone the start of car production in Spain to the fourth quarter of 2025, an executive at its Spanish partner Ebro said on Thursday, about a year behind a previous schedule.

In September, Ebro already said Chery would delay production at its Barcelona plant, its very first in Europe, till near year from late this year without giving a more exact time.

The project has not been cancelled. There has actually simply been a. readjustment, Ebro's chief executive, Pedro Calef, said in an. interview at the plant.

We have reasons to think we will have a solid. relationship (with Chery) for many years, he included.

Chery could not instantly be gotten in touch with outside Chinese. organization hours.

In September, Ebro had actually pointed out industrial reasons, including. European Union tariffs on Chinese-made electrical vehicles (EVs),. however Calef stated the tariffs must not affect the joint venture. since production remains in Europe.

Spain abstained from the EU vote in October to enforce greater. tariffs on Chinese EVs.

The Chery-Ebro venture stated in April it would aim to produce. approximately 150,000 lorries a year by 2029 and make the Barcelona. plant one of Chery's primary export facilities as EV makers. around the world wage an aggressive price war to win market share.

The plant was used by Japanese carmaker Nissan till 2021. and before that by Ebro.

Up to 1,250 former Nissan employees will be worked with, Ebro's. Chairman Rafael Ruiz informed Reuters.

Independently, the rebranded Ebro, which stopped sales in 1987,. will produce its first SUV - in plug-in hybrid and petrol engine. variations - at the end of this year.

In between 20,000 and 30,000 cars will be produced next. year with sales focused for now in Spain and Andorra, Calef. stated. The rate will be competitive, he added, decreasing to. intricate.

Another Ebro SUV will start to be manufactured this year,. while the postponed joint venture's production will permit a third. Ebro design to be brought forward to mid from late-2025.

The first vehicle produced by Chery in Barcelona will be its. SUV Omoda 5.

Ebro tasks sales of around 330 million euros ($ 347. million) in 2025 and 1.1 billion euros in 2027. It expects core. earnings of 22 million euros next year when it would start. posting a profit.

EV Motors, Ebro's holding company, was listed. last month on Spain's stock market.

(source: Reuters)