Battery gigafactory project that Stellantis plans to establish Zaragoza It could not receive the expected support from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism. The plan, called the Antares project, Aid worth €53.3 million was provided from Perte VEC (Electric and Connected Vehicle). The call aims to encourage investment in the production capacity of these energy accumulators. The company aims to receive public incentives of nearly 200 million euros for an investment exceeding 1,000 million euros. This is the maximum amount allowed by European regulations on subsidies in the autonomous community, this newspaper has learned from sources familiar with the process.
In this way, the multinational company retains only a quarter of the requested amount. To think A serious disruption in promoting an important investment for the future of the Aragonese automobile industry, although there is still room to change. While the company did not want to detail whether the giant factory that this community longed for would emerge after the Antares initiative, after learning about the temporary solution to the call for help, Stellantis announced that it will submit the necessary claims to receive maximum support for the submitted projects. Its economic sustainability in Spain is being investigated by the group”.
“In accordance with our global policy, we do not comment on speculation about the time, location and type of projects within the group,” said the motor giant led by Carlos Tavares. “During, We are moving quickly to lead the transition to electrification and achieve net zero emissions “As we develop our battery capacity in Europe,” they add.
The company argues that, as is often the case with Stellantis, communicative confidentiality prevents details of the project from being known, which “will be communicated when appropriate decisions have been made.” The ministry’s decision states that the total investment in this action will be 267 million, with an aid allocation of 53.3 million.. These amounts are insufficient for the development of this battery industry, which, if it comes to fruition, will most likely occur at the same Stellantis factory in Figueruelas and the surrounding area. The reason why the industry nixed this ambitious initiative is unknown, but everything indicates that it might be the reason. different technical comments that can be corrected.
Four Stellantis projects
Stellantis received €63.75 million for its three factories in Spain, divided into four projects: two in Zaragoza, one in Madrid and the other vigo, It’s all about battery workshops.
Although partial financing has been obtained for these four projects, sources in the industry point to a direct outcome. There was the infamous “discomfort” within the multinational that saw expectations fall. In the first call for the electric car Perte, Stellantis made claims to the then Minister of Industry, Reyes Maroto, who increased the amount allocated to Figueruelas from 42 million euros to 52 million euros.
The Zaragoza plant managed to get another part of the Perte VEC call mentioned above. In this situation Yesand awarded 3.3 million for the opening of a new battery assembly line for electric vehicles, An activity that had already existed at the factory for several years after Opel started production of the Corsa-e. This plug-in vehicle has recently been joined by a second model of this type, the Peugeot e-208, and next spring a third, the Lancia Ypsilon, will be added from spring 2024.
Stellantis expects to receive the decision on the other hotline included in the second call of the Perte VEC, aimed at supporting the industrial value chain of electric and connected vehicles. In this situation, The company presented a joint proposal aimed at completing electrification for the Figueruelas and Vigo factories from both factories. This leap forward is expected to occur with the installation of the group’s new industrial platforms, STLA Small, in two factories; This will be standard for all small models from multinational brands from 2026, i.e. for models already available at the Zaragoza plant. was rewarded.
To continue to accompany the transformation of the automobile industry, the Ministry announced this week that it will launch the third version of the Perte Electric Car at the beginning of 2024. The new call for the program will be funded with the same amount of 1,250 million euros. In the previous one, there will be two windows where companies in the sector can introduce themselves; one for battery production projects and the other for the electric vehicle value chain.
Other tasks
The Ministry of Industry gave the green light to a new round of aid for electric vehicle battery production projects within the scope of Perte VEC II. Seven new bids representing 87 million euros were provisionally authorized. In addition to the four Stellantis projects,Alongside the final decision for Beecycle, initiatives from Mobis, Fragnor and Lithium Iberia were also approved. Company providing financing for a €1.6 million battery recycling facility in Navarra.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Héctor Gómez wanted to emphasize yesterday that “the extraordinary proactiveness and cooperation of the automotive sector in Spain demonstrates the desire to make our country the center of European mobility through its projects.” “. Gómez thanked the ministry’s technicians for their work. “When it comes to managing and processing the files that come to us. We will take as much speed as possible from this ministry to deliver the aid as soon as possible.” He also said, “It guarantees that 100% of the funds will be exhausted for both individual and battery projects, which will represent significant importance. Accelerate this transformation process.”