Ebro expands its range with new electrified cars made in Barcelona
The new Barcelona brand is advancing its roadmap with the production of plug-in hybrid vehicles at its Zona Franca facilities.
The Ebro automobile brand, the result of a collaboration agreement between the Catalan EV Motors company and the Chinese automotive giant Chery, has already begun production of the electrified PHEV or plug-in hybrid version of its S700 SUV at its plant in the Zona Franca district of Barcelona. This milestone marks a turning point for Ebro, which began production of the combustion engine versions of its two S700 and S800 SUVs at the end of 2024, having already produced around 2,400 units over the last four months.
The new Ebro S700 PHEV, or plug-in hybrid, has a total range of 1,200 kilometers thanks to its two propulsion systems, a range of 90 kilometers in fully electric, zero-emission mode, and can be charged up to 80% of its capacity in just 19 minutes. The first units of this electrified model will arrive at the brand's dealerships just after Easter, with a base price of €39,900 for the Premium version and €41,900 for the Luxury version.
The reindustrialization of the former Nissan plant in the Zona Franca had been one of the priority objectives of the various Catalan governments since Nissan's traumatic departure from these facilities four years ago. Although at first glance, one might think that the Zona Franca plant was a real selling point for major automotive manufacturers due to its strategic location (very close to the port of Barcelona, the airport, and the train station, and nestled within the urban fabric of the Catalan capital), finding a partner willing to invest and invest in this site was a longer process. Finally, after much back-and-forth and marathon negotiation sessions, the government announced an agreement with EV Motors and the Chinese manufacturer Chery for the occupation of the Nissan facilities in the Zona Franca and Montcada i Reixac.
Moving forward with new models
Ebro's growth roadmap now involves continuing to increase its production rate to consolidate its position as a key player in the automotive industry's repositioning and decarbonization process. This year, 2025, it will also begin production of the plug-in hybrid or PHEV version of its second model, the S800 seven-seat family SUV, as well as the compact and economical S400 SUV, an SUV that will be priced at around €20,000 and has yet to be officially launched.
The new Ebro S400 – which, as we have learned, the brand will present at the Barcelona Automobile Show starting on May 10 – will be a 4.35-meter-long SUV with a 380-liter trunk capacity and a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with 145 hp and a traction system. It will offer combustion and mild hybrid versions, and a mild hybrid which will be based on the existing structure of the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro.
Ebro currently produces around fifty units per day at its facilities, and with the brand's growth plan, it also aims to become a mainstream manufacturer, using 25% or more of its structural and technological components manufactured by local suppliers. While Ebro currently assembles its helmets, engines, and other components directly from China, the brand's roadmap includes a new industrial model with a greater emphasis on vehicle production in Catalonia (painting, upholstery, assembly of various structural components). It also relies on specialized local suppliers, who already work with other manufacturers in Landaben (Navarra), the Stellantis group factory in Figueruelas (Zaragoza), and the Ford factory in Almussafes (Valencia).
Ebro's industrial drive with new electrified models and a new affordable compact SUV, and above all, the process of transforming current assembly tasks into a new model with greater local production, should facilitate the recovery of jobs at the former Nissan plant in the Zona Franca, now called Ebro Factory. According to the brand, it already has a workforce of 850 workers, which will increase depending on the brand's production needs and growth.