Silence will operate as part of the old Nissan plot inside a Free Zone starting July 1. The Barcelona Free Zone Consortium (CZFB) will lease the land directly to the user to speed up industrial distribution, while management sits with Peter Navarro. Plans call for public announcements and calls for interested companies from mid-June, with final terms to auction the remaining surface currently held by the Japanese company. The government, the Generalitat, and the unions have laid out expectations that delays from bidders who fail to deliver could push back other projects, including the electricity generator. D-Hub, per multiple sources, is aware of remarks circulating through year-end projections.
The Nissan reindustrialization commission has closed the land distribution in the Free Zone. A total area of 61,078 square meters within a 517,000 square meter site will be developed by the electric motorcycle manufacturer Silence. Preliminary arrangements are in place, and 110 former Nissan workers (from a payroll of 2,500 previously) are expected to be hired by the Acciona investment company. A meeting between unions and company leadership is planned for later this week to determine which profiles will join the workforce and the hiring timeline.
The balance of the land remains unsettled. A political accord exists among the administration, the power plants, and Nissan, but bidding documents have not been finalized. The firm RocaJunyent, representing the Consorci, is racing against time to technically define the rules. The aim is to publish the bid in the second half of June, followed by a one-month window for potential managers to submit their interest. The idea is for an inmologistics facilitator to transfer the land to third parties and manage contracts with tenants.
To ensure some basic industrial activity, certain constraints will apply. Sources say roughly 270,000 square meters would go to an industrial electric vehicle maker that fits D-Hub’s profile, with the remainder designated for logistics. Even with allowances for building height and expanded footprint, this would occupy less than half of Nissan’s current space.
Land decontamination, a challenge
One reason for delays in the contest publication, agreed by the parties months ago, lies in legal complications. The reindustrialization commission needed a specification that truly reserved space for the brands under negotiation. Because the process was public, candidates could not reveal identifying details to avoid disclosing confidential information. Legally, the situation presents a complex puzzle.
Another hurdle is the disagreement between Nissan and the Consorci over the land swap cost. The landowner requires available plots for the next tenant, while Nissan reportedly resists bearing the full cost. Additional issues include potential transfer of operating licenses, environmental licenses, and changes to the municipal usage plan necessary for operation.
As the page nears publication in the coming weeks, three names stand out: Australian real estate firm Goodman, Madrid-based investment fund Merlin Features, and multinational Prologue. A dozen companies are said to be eyeing the land. In enterprise terms, the plateau of space reserved for logistics will carry more capital and a higher rent burden than the initial industrial projects, due to the desire to maximize height and overall footprint.
The site is highly desirable for its proximity to the harbor, making it a likely battleground for bidders. Early stages of the reindustrialization saw a legal contest among consultants to advise the process, with KPMG ultimately selected, which delayed work for several months.
Deal with D-Hub expected to close
The framework for a public tender to select the space manager is a prerequisite for D-Hub, created by QEV and B Technologymay, to advance its Free Trade Zone candidacy. Negotiations with workers continue to absorb the bulk of Nissan’s former workforce; the plan envisions hiring 200 this year and 600 next year, gradually reaching about 1,300 by 2026. A key challenge is the level of capital D-Hub must assemble, which depends on alliances with other firms. According to insiders, these partnerships may take time to finalize until the public tender receives approval.