Chinese Firm CATL to Build Spanish โขBattery Factory with Workforce Initially Composed of Chinese Nationals
Valencia,Spain – chinese battery manufacturer โขContemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) is moving forwardโข with construction of a large-scale battery factory in Spain, but the project is drawing scrutiny due to the โcompany’s plan to import approximately 2,000 Chinese workers for the initial phases of advancement.
the factory, intended to serve the growing European electric โฃvehicle market, will see Chinese workers responsibleโ for assembling and โsetting up production lines, constructing clean rooms, and implementing specialized technologies. CATLโฃ anticipates gradually hiring around 3,000 local โคemployees, who will receive training inโข cooperation with โSpanish universities and vocational schools.
According to CATL, the โฃreliance โon a Chinese workforce stems from a lack of local expertise in areas โขlike electrochemistry,โข operation of specialized machinery, and handling sensitive materials. The company intends to deploy teams of engineers โand technicians with experience from similar gigafactories already โฃoperating in China and elsewhere in Europe. CATL stated its intention to have Chinese experts oversee keyโค processes – including cell โฃchemical composition and production software setup – to protect itsโค proprietary technology, with local employees eventually taking over standard โคproduction tasks. This approach contrasts with the company’s gigafactory construction in Debrecen, Hungary,โค where CATL โฃprimarilyโ employed local workers.
the situation โคhas prompted the European Union to consider stricter regulations on foreign investment in strategic sectors, including the battery industry. Proposed measures aim to ensure a greater โshare of local employment, โthe development โคof intra-Unionโ supply chains,โ and increased access to โคcriticalโข technologies, with the goal of preventing Europe from becomingโข solely reliant on foreign technology and assembly.