CATL-Stellantis Spanish EV Battery Plant to Use 1,000 Chinese Workers for Construction

The electric vehicle battery plant being built by a joint venture between CATL and Stellantis in northeastern Spain will employ an average of 1,000 workers from China during its construction phase. The project's production start has also been pushed back slightly to early 2027.

Construction Workforce and Timeline

Aragon's president, Jorge Azcon, confirmed the staffing plans at a press conference on Monday, stating that the number of Chinese workers on site could reach a maximum of 1,700. The arrival of these workers is contingent on the processing of visas and work permits.

Currently, 500 people are working on the plant's construction, including 172 workers from China who are primarily filling design and management positions, Azcon said. The joint venture, known as Contemporary Star Energy (CSE), received all necessary approvals for construction, which began with a groundbreaking ceremony in November 2025. Production is now slated to begin in the first months of 2027, a delay from the previously announced target of late 2026.

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Local Hiring and Operations

While construction will rely heavily on specialized labor from China, the venture plans to transition to a local workforce for the operational phase. Azcon, speaking alongside CSE chief executive Andy Wu, announced a plan to train 4,000 workers from the Aragon region to operate the facility once it reaches full capacity.

As a sign of the project's progress, Wu is expected to relocate to Zaragoza, the capital of Aragon, in the near future. The facility is a critical component of Stellantis's strategy to secure a local battery supply chain for its European electric vehicle production.