CATL's Spain battery plant faces EU pushback on staffing
EU pushback threatens CATL–Stellantis LFP battery launch in Spain
CATL's Spain battery plant faces EU pushback on staffing
CATL’s €4.1bn LFP plant with Stellantis in Spain seeks visas for 2,000 Chinese staff, drawing EU pushback and tech transfer demands could delay a 2026 launch.
2025-11-15T11:09:49+03:00
2025-11-15T11:09:49+03:00
2025-11-15T11:09:49+03:00
A fresh political and industrial clash is brewing around CATL’s Spanish project. The Chinese battery heavyweight, co-building an LFP plant in Figueruelas with Stellantis, says it needs entry clearance for 2,000 engineers, technicians, and managers from China to commission the site. The company maintains that the advanced production lines cannot be started up and calibrated without them.The spark was a recent intervention by EU industry commissioner Stéphane Séjourné, who criticized the practice of bringing into EU countries factories that rely on Chinese components and Chinese staff. His remarks were aimed at Chery, BYD, and CATL, which Brussels considers slow to share technology with European partners.CATL responds that the specialists are needed only during the launch phase. After that, local employees would be trained and would gradually take control of operations. The company points to the same pattern at its sites in Germany and Hungary.The request comes across as pragmatic, framing the launch as a technical hurdle rather than a political litmus test. Still, the tone from Brussels hints at a wider struggle over who sets the terms of access—and who ultimately keeps the know-how on European soil.Investment in the Spanish project exceeds €4.1 billion, with production slated to begin by late 2026. Now, though, the agreement could face delays as the EU debates new measures, including making technology transfer to European companies a condition for market access.
CATL, Spain battery plant, Stellantis, LFP batteries, EU pushback, technology transfer, Chinese engineers, visas, Figueruelas, EU industry policy, €4.1bn investment, 2026 launch
2025
Michael Powers
news
EU pushback threatens CATL–Stellantis LFP battery launch in Spain
CATL’s €4.1bn LFP plant with Stellantis in Spain seeks visas for 2,000 Chinese staff, drawing EU pushback and tech transfer demands could delay a 2026 launch.
Michael Powers, Editor
A fresh political and industrial clash is brewing around CATL’s Spanish project. The Chinese battery heavyweight, co-building an LFP plant in Figueruelas with Stellantis, says it needs entry clearance for 2,000 engineers, technicians, and managers from China to commission the site. The company maintains that the advanced production lines cannot be started up and calibrated without them.
The spark was a recent intervention by EU industry commissioner Stéphane Séjourné, who criticized the practice of bringing into EU countries factories that rely on Chinese components and Chinese staff. His remarks were aimed at Chery, BYD, and CATL, which Brussels considers slow to share technology with European partners.
CATL responds that the specialists are needed only during the launch phase. After that, local employees would be trained and would gradually take control of operations. The company points to the same pattern at its sites in Germany and Hungary.
The request comes across as pragmatic, framing the launch as a technical hurdle rather than a political litmus test. Still, the tone from Brussels hints at a wider struggle over who sets the terms of access—and who ultimately keeps the know-how on European soil.
Investment in the Spanish project exceeds €4.1 billion, with production slated to begin by late 2026. Now, though, the agreement could face delays as the EU debates new measures, including making technology transfer to European companies a condition for market access.
