Aragon’s Automotive Supply Chain Expands with CEFA-MRA Group Growth
One third of dashboards launched in Spain originate from an Aragonese company with deep social roots. The CEFA-MRA group stands as a leading producer of automotive components, with manufacturing requests fulfilled at facilities in Malpica and Figueruelas. The group is already planning for the future as it gears up to shift toward electric vehicle production.
Industry challenges such as the decline of internal combustion engines, supply disruptions, and bottlenecks in global logistics have begun to ease. In response, strategic investments are accelerating. Jorge Blanchard announced a 117 million euro commitment across both factories. The plan includes expanding instrument panel production to support five new vehicle models, most of them electric, beginning by 2026.
Blanchard, who serves as general manager of CEFA (Fabric Pulp), noted that these projects increasingly rely on innovation. The company is exploring green materials to boost their role in vehicles through a circular economy approach. He also highlighted labor market pressures that continue to slow recruitment and workforce consolidation. The firm currently employs about 350 workers in the two factories, with total personnel reaching around 800 across the group. He explained that finding skilled staff remains a primary bottleneck for the industry.
Figueruelas, situated near Stellantis, has already seen official visits from regional leaders. The factory produces instrument panels and doors for the Opel Corsa and its electric version, the dashboard for the Seat León, the Cupra model, and the Volkswagen T-Cross, along with door trims for the Mercedes Vito. The company aims to grow its market share further, targeting a rise to 40 percent and challenging rivals such as Faurecia and Antolin, based in Burgos.
The Figueruelas facility covers an area of 22,000 square meters, with 16,000 square meters allocated to Malpica operations. It maintains a rapid production pace, generating a unit every minute—comparable to the Stellantis lines in Figueruelas where a car is produced each minute. Leaders of the region praise the long-standing, 77-year presence of the company and its contribution to the Aragonese export footprint. They note that components from Aragonese factories reach millions of vehicles worldwide and urge local companies to persist in pursuing innovation to secure future success.
Vaquero’s Outlook for the Car Sector
Industry veteran Mar Vaquero predicts a period of strong performance with sustained positive results for the sector. He emphasizes that the expansion will have direct benefits for the community through job creation and leadership in the automotive market. The regional executive vice president stresses Aragon’s reputation for hosting renowned firms and thousands of skilled workers producing high-quality work. The ongoing commitment is to keep the automotive sector central to regional employment and prosperity across society.