Stellantis has not announced any new industrial decisions, with the Balaídos factory securing the STLA Small platform for the group’s fully electric vehicles. There is no planned work in the coming month on deploying a new industrial platform, and the holiday shutdown of a large portion of the workforce is being used as the backdrop for this pause. The message from Vigo is clear: the next three years will define the path to the new generation of zero-emission vehicles, while the factory remains vigilant about union concerns and supplier stability. This is being read by unions in Vigo as a signal that the plant will not rush into fresh investments or platform changes without broader strategic guarantees. The focus right now is the current workforce and the maintenance cycle rather than any imminent launch of a new era in the Balaídos complex.
A union spokesperson emphasizes that the summer will be lean, with just 102 production runs planned and most resources directed toward tool maintenance and replacement rather than a new project. The postponement of investments is framed as a sign that the multinational is awaiting the government’s promised support for essential infrastructure and financing. In particular, attention is on the Muy Alta grid connection and the broader commitments connected to the Perte VEC program, which may influence decisions this month. Despite the Second Call for Perte VEC showing momentum, the Vigo center remains cautious until the state confirms the logistics and funding needed to move forward.
Before any official award of a platform or model, a set of strategic industrial decisions typically emerges to prepare and reassure staff and suppliers. At present, Vigo has not shown those signals. Both unions and parts suppliers anticipate that August, during the holiday shutdown, could reveal signs of the Balaídos plant adopting the new STLA Small platform in terms of work and investment—but the reality remains more tentative. The aim is to keep the two existing production lines and the current level of employment intact while the company weighs the timing of the platform’s full integration. A union representative warns that rushing the process could push the timeline to the next summer, increasing the risk of disruption.
The industry notes the unusual delay as not being normal. Some sources suggest the hold is tied to doubts about the central government’s commitments, particularly the aid expected from the second Perte VEC call, with decisions due in September and potentially affecting only the later stages of planning. Infrastructure improvements, such as selective and high-voltage connections, are part of the broader picture. The planned investment in the Vigo industrial platform is around 600 million euros, with the company seeking approximately 20% of that from public funds, or just over 200 million. The strategic calculus is further influenced by France’s push to repatriate electric vehicle production, including the Peugeot e-208, which is slated to move to Zaragoza and could affect the risk calculus for southern Galicia.
Alongside these industrial deliberations, a solar strategy is moving forward at Balaídos. In August, with some months’ delay, the installation of the first solar panels for the photovoltaic plant will begin, covering all the Balaídos warehouses. Prosolia Energy will lead the project, executed in two phases with a total investment surpassing 12 million euros. The installation will bring 27,000 solar panels to bear across 170,000 square meters, roughly the size of 24 football fields. The Stellantis solar park, planned at 18.78 MWp, is expected to generate about 23.7 GWh of decarbonized electricity each year, accounting for roughly 14 percent of the electricity used in the production process. This aligns with the group’s broader goal of reducing the carbon footprint across its Spanish footprint. (attribution: Stellantis)
In the initial phase, more than 15,000 solar panels will be installed on the roofs of buildings 01 and E, covering over 92,200 square meters and delivering around 10.83 MWp of capacity. This phase is projected to produce 14.2 GWh of electricity annually. In the second phase, another 12,000 panels will be added, covering about 77,400 square meters and delivering an additional 8 MWp with an annual output of about 9.5 GWh. This photovoltaic installation complements the company’s existing plants in Zaragoza and Madrid, reinforcing Stellantis’ energy strategy across its Spanish operations. (attribution: Stellantis)
The overall project positions Balaídos as a leading example of industrial modernization in the region, coupling a potential for future platform upgrades with a concrete commitment to sustainable energy. The solar initiative underscores a broader plan to integrate green technologies into daily production, helping to reduce operating costs while supporting regional energy resilience. As the company navigates funding and regulatory signals from national authorities, the Vigo complex remains a focal point for discussions about how Stellantis will balance timing, investment, and jobs with its long-term electrification roadmap. (attribution: Stellantis)