The town of Figueruelas, near Zaragoza, will host one of Europe's most powerful industrial projects in the coming years.: the construction of a gigafactory for electric car batteries driven by Stellantis and CATL. This ambitious project not only seeks to strengthen the automotive industry in the region but also to guarantee the future of vehicle production in Aragon in the face of the transition to electric mobility.
The initiative, supported by an initial investment of 4.100 billion eurosrepresents a milestone for the local and national economy. Expected to be fully operational by 2028, the plant is emerging as one of the key drivers of the industrial and energy transformation in Southern Europe.
A benchmark complex in the electrical sector
The gigafactory will occupy an area of 890.000 square meters., including partial integration into the current Stellantis complex. The plan, dubbed Project TORO and authorized by the Government of Aragon through the PIGA (Spanish Association of Electric Vehicles), contemplates a profound adaptation of existing infrastructure to accommodate the technology of CATL, the world's leading producer of electric batteries.
In total, 367.000 square meters will be used for main and auxiliary buildings for production and logistics.The investment will cover both civil works and state-of-the-art machinery, with phases staggered between 2025 and 2029, and an additional €680 million for the plant's final commissioning.
The construction schedule foresees dividing the works into several stages, ensuring that the province of Zaragoza will have in a few years one of the largest battery manufacturing facilities in Europe.
Employment and economic development
One of the project's great attractions lies in its potential for job creation. During the production phase, the creation of up to 3.000 direct jobs is expected., to which another 8.500 indirect jobs will be added in a wide range of sectors such as construction, metallurgy, metal products, machinery, technical services, renewable energy, and logistics.
El Estimated economic impact is around 8.000 billion euros, with a particularly notable impact on Aragonese industry. Furthermore, it is estimated that the plant's operations will generate a fiscal return for the public coffers of more than €2.000 billion in taxes and fees over the next 15 years.
This advance places Aragon at the epicenter of the electric automotive revolution and reinforces its role as a strategic industrial hub in southern Europe.
Sustainability and efficient water management
The gigafactory will require a significant water supply, around 25.000 million cubic meters annually, equivalent to the consumption of XNUMX households. Stellantis and CATL have designed an advanced hydraulic system which will take advantage of the current concessions of the Imperial Canal of Aragon and the Ebro River, adding new tanks, pumping and treatment systems.
Part of the water intended for cooling will undergo processes such as reverse osmosis to optimize its industrial use. In addition, tertiary water treatment will be implemented, allowing reuse treated water in the production processes themselves, thus betting on water efficiency and sustainability.
To ensure the plant's future operability, The existing water treatment plant will be expanded to triple its capacity, adapting to the new needs of electric battery production.
These measures are expected to help reduce the facility's environmental impact, promoting a more sustainable and environmentally friendly production model.
Innovation, institutional support and business collaboration
The project has received a strong support from institutions, obtaining more than €265 million in public aid through various calls for proposals from the Electric and Connected Vehicles Program (PERTE). These grants will expand the factory's capacity and facilitate the incorporation of cutting-edge European technology.
The agreement between Stellantis and CATL is complemented by business collaborations focused on battery maintenance, reconditioning, and reuse, promoting the circular economy and developing solutions for the "second life" of these components. Companies specializing in energy system diagnostics and management will increase their activity in response to the demand posed by this major industrial project.
This global approach places the gigafactory as a benchmark in innovation, sustainability and transition to electric mobility, integrating both production and resource optimization and the development of new associated industrial services.
The future Figueruelas plant therefore represents a qualitative leap in the industrial strategy of Aragon and Spain, strengthening the region's competitiveness and its ability to attract new projects linked to electric vehicles and clean energy.