Gasgoo Munich- On April 8 local time in Spain, Chery Auto announced the inauguration of its European Operations Center in Barcelona, alongside the launch of its Spain R&D Institute. The facility marks the company's first regional headquarters outside China and will function as a central platform for its European business, integrating operations, compliance, supply chain coordination, finance, and public affairs.
Image source: Chery
For Chery, Europe is not only a cornerstone market but also a critical arena for innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth. Chery's Chairman Yin Tongyue said the Barcelona hub is intended to become a core operational base capable of better understanding and serving European customers. The initiative reflects Chery's long-standing localization philosophy—embedding itself within each market it enters—which is now beginning to deliver tangible commercial results.
Chery currently operates in 18 European countries, serving more than 100,000 customers across the region, with growth expected to remain strong. In January and February alone, the automaker sold 39,000 vehicles in the UK and EU markets, representing a 200% year-on-year increase. Over the same period, exports of new energy vehicles reached 11,500 units, up 250% year-on-year. Notably, one in every five NEVs exported by Chery is destined for Europe.
Its OMODA and JAECOO brands have gained rapid traction in Spain since entering the market in 2024, surpassing 40,000 units in cumulative sales.
The latest expansion is underpinned by Chery's emphasis on deep localization. The newly established Spain R&D Institute will focus on electrification, intelligent mobility, and sustainability, while aligning with European standards in data protection, environmental responsibility, and regulatory compliance. The company also plans to create high-skilled jobs in engineering, product development, innovation, and operations, strengthening collaboration with local talent and institutions. The broader aim is to develop vehicles tailored to European preferences while embedding itself into the region's industrial ecosystem.
This localization approach has already delivered results. In 2024, Chery partnered with EV Motors to revive Spain's historic EBRO brand, reactivating an idle factory in Barcelona and creating more than 1,000 local jobs. The project has been widely recognized as a model of China–Spain industrial cooperation. Beyond manufacturing, Chery has also engaged in environmental initiatives, including collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to restore Mediterranean seagrass ecosystems, reinforcing its role as a responsible corporate citizen.
From its first passenger car exports to the Middle East in 2001, to the EBRO project in Spain in 2024, and now the launch of its European hub, Chery has spent 25 years building a global presence through a long-term, localization-driven strategy.
The company now serves more than 19 million users worldwide, including 6.23 million overseas customers, with operations spanning over 130 countries and regions. It is also the first Chinese auto brand to surpass 6 million units in cumulative exports.
