Four years ago, 52 automotive companies—60% of them SMEs—in Spain joined forces under the Fast Forward (F3) umbrella. Spain and Catalonia were determined to work together to further promote electric vehicles and everything related to them. This meant not only securing their place among the population—so that they would replace combustion engine cars—but also boosting their production: from components to complete manufacturing. Europe was also investing heavily, making electric cars a key priority for European anti-pandemic funds linked to the Recovery Plan. In fact, the group's genesis lies in the ability to develop sufficiently mature projects that covered the entire value chain to secure maximum funding from this European windfall. In Spain's case, this funding has been channeled through a specific strategic project, known as PERTE.

"The automotive industry can help other sectors in which Europe plans to invest heavily in the coming years." This phrase was uttered by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during the presentation of the shock plan in response to Donald Trump's tariffs in early April. At the time, the Spanish Prime Minister did not specify which sectors he was referring to; however, over the days, the defense sector has become a target, and the Spanish government's announcement of meet the 2% of GDP target for defense in 2025, with 10.471 billion euros, further strengthens the potential link. Now, can the Spanish automotive industry make a name for itself in defense?

The Spanish government is stepping on the gas to try to give oxygen to the electric car, which has long been in the spotlight due to the crossfire between Brussels and China, but the tariffs announced by Donald Trump are further aggravating the situation. In this context, the automotive sector has pointed out that the government is not doing its homework to boost demand for these vehicles and try to boost the business. These demands now seem to be finding a response. After the approval of the Moves III plan to aid electric cars Valued at 400 million euros, Pedro Sánchez's government has just published its first virtual state map with operational charging points.

Wayne Griffiths (Dukinfield, United Kingdom, 1966) has decided to step down as CEO of Seat and Cupra at his own request, according to company sources confirmed to ARA. In a statement, the company indicated that Griffiths is leaving Seat and Cupra "to pursue new challenges." Wayne Griffiths He took over the reins of Catalonia's main industrial company In 2020, at a very complicated time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and following the departure of Luca de Meo. The executive, who is also president of Cupra, leaves the position at a time when the automotive sector is in the spotlight. due to the trade war opened by Donald Trump.

The United States has paused its contributions to the World Trade Organization (WTO), three trade sources told Reuters, as the Trump administration steps up efforts to cut government spending. The Trump administration is withdrawing from global institutions it sees as at odds with its economic policies and plans to leave some, such as the World Health Organization, and has cut contributions to others as part of a broad review of federal spending.

In the midst of the crisis unleashed among European leaders by the vacuum that Washington has created in the European Union and Kiev in the negotiations with Moscow on the future of the war in Ukraine, the Twenty-Seven are showing optimism in the face of the threat of a trade war. The EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maros Sefcovic, asked his American counterparts in Washington to stop the clock until April 2 (when reciprocal tariffs are supposed to come into force) to give time to negotiations and "avoid pain," he announced on Thursday.