The Nissan Zona Franca plant in Barcelona opened in 1983 with the launch of production of the Nissan Patrol SUV. It was the first Japanese car produced in Europe and over 18 years, 196,000 cars rolled off the assembly line. They also produced SUVs Nissan Terrano II, Nissan Pathfinder, Primastar vans, NV200 and e-NV200, Nissan Pulsar hatchback and Nissan NP300 Navara pickup.
It was the Navara that became the last model produced by the Zona Franca enterprise under the auspices of Nissan. The last copy left the factory floor in mid-December.
In addition to the automobile assembly plant, this complex includes separate plants for the production of stamped parts, frames and suspension components. In total, 3,000 people worked at the production complex (of which 1,600 were at the main plant). 1,400 employees were sent into early retirement with payment of all required compensations and reimbursements. The fate of the remaining 1,600 has not yet been determined.
The media initially named three contenders for the purchase of the Nissan Zona Franca complex: Chinese Great Wall, Spanish electric motorcycle manufacturer Silence and local engineering firm QEV Technologies, which develops electric vehicles. According to Reuters, the Chinese abandoned their bid last week and now the main candidate is the Catalan QEV Technologies. The firm plans to turn the site into a center for the production of electric vehicles and their components, with the participation of Swedish manufacturers Inzile and Volta.
The parameters of the deal are still being discussed, but in case the negotiations fail, a backup has been named, a previously unmentioned contender – the Belgian company Punch. It produces automatic transmissions for passenger cars. At the same time, the already mentioned satellite enterprises (stamping and “suspension”) will most likely be sold separately.