About 12,000 cars were gathered with a customer and prepared for departure, while Stellantis’ Figueruelas plant sits largely idle as congestion at European ports continues to complicate shipments. The situation translates into a storage challenge that far exceeds the plant’s usual parking capacity in Zaragoza, forcing the company to use additional storage sites connected to the factory. The disruption in freight transport is already affecting exports, and although Figueruelas is still in earlier stages of this strain, other Stellantis plants and major automakers have already begun adapting their plans.
The bottleneck traces back to gridlock at European port hubs. The reshaping of sea routes after the pandemic, coupled with a still-fragile semiconductor supply and a global shift toward electrification, has unsettled the logistics map. The impact is felt across the value chain as the industry grapples with shifted schedules, longer lead times, and new uncertainties in the movement of goods. While the automotive market pivots toward electric models, the door remains ajar to delay and congestion.
As Figueruelas’ management notes, vehicles are typically released on the day they reach completion or the next business day, but the yard is now often left with tens of thousands of new cars waiting. Somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 vehicles are parked in the field, and work is underway to resolve what executives describe as a global problem. They emphasize that shipments do not depart because there is no exit at the port.
It is not a problem confined to Zaragoza. The logistics crunch is worldwide: France’s largest Stellantis plant at Sochaux has faced similar constraints, managing production without reliable sea or rail exits. At the Villaverde plant in Madrid, the group led by Carlos Tavares has already announced changes, including a reduction in night shifts that will affect several hundred direct jobs as of late December. Across the network, manufacturers are rethinking line utilization and transportation options to cope with the volume and timing pressures.
The rollout of assembled vehicles is tied to multiple ports including Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia, Pasajes, Santander, Vigo, Lisbon, and Tarrragona—port congestion is not isolated to any one facility. The situation, noted by industry observers, is a broad crisis impacting the entire automotive world, not just a single company.
According to sources close to Aragon’s logistics sector, there is some expectation that the bottlenecks will ease in the coming months, allowing professionals to maintain their activity. Industry insiders say port plugs are unlikely to be resolved until the second half of the year, underscoring a broader shortage of drivers in heavy transport and ongoing gaps in logistics capabilities. In Europe, the International Road Transport Organization (IRU) warns of a persistent driver shortfall, with tens of thousands of vacancies historically unfilled as the year ends. The pressure travels through ports, shipping lines, and into factory floors, though Stellantis notes that more than half of its production still moves directly from the factory to rail-linked ports.
Line 1 will reduce production speed
The Figueruelas plant is navigating these fresh headwinds alongside a continuing semiconductor crisis and the upcoming rounds of collective bargaining discussions. Management and the works council remain engaged in ongoing talks about how to respond to fluctuations in production volume. A recent meeting produced offers and counteroffers, with a decision on any postponements anticipated to take effect from early next year after further deliberations. Until year-end, management retains a degree of flexibility in planning.
In a related move, management informed the works council of an intention to cut Line 1 output by nearly half. Line 1 combines the assembly of Opel Crossland and Citroën C3 Aircross, and the proposed change would reduce hourly output for workers on the B shift. The adjustment aims to rebalance the line from about 51 vehicles per hour to roughly 32, a shift that raises concerns among unions about potential saturation, changes in working methods, and staffing levels. In this context, a lasting agreement covering wage structures and shift flexibility is sought to support the workforce through the transition.
The broader production strategy remains focused on maintaining steady output while accommodating port and logistics realities. The company continues to evaluate how to optimize line efficiency, integrate transportation options, and support workers through the evolving industrial landscape.