Chinese Firm CATL to Build Spanish Battery Factory with Workforce Initially Composed of Chinese Nationals
Valencia,Spain – chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) is moving forward with construction of a large-scale battery factory in Spain, but the project is drawing scrutiny due to the company’s plan to import approximately 2,000 Chinese workers for the initial phases of advancement.
the factory, intended to serve the growing European electric vehicle market, will see Chinese workers responsible for assembling and setting up production lines, constructing clean rooms, and implementing specialized technologies. CATL anticipates gradually hiring around 3,000 local employees, who will receive training in cooperation with Spanish universities and vocational schools.
According to CATL, the reliance on a Chinese workforce stems from a lack of local expertise in areas like electrochemistry, operation of specialized machinery, and handling sensitive materials. The company intends to deploy teams of engineers and technicians with experience from similar gigafactories already operating in China and elsewhere in Europe. CATL stated its intention to have Chinese experts oversee key processes – including cell chemical composition and production software setup – to protect its proprietary technology, with local employees eventually taking over standard production tasks. This approach contrasts with the company’s gigafactory construction in Debrecen, Hungary, where CATL primarily employed local workers.
the situation has 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 share of local employment, the development of intra-Union supply chains, and increased access to critical technologies, with the goal of preventing Europe from becoming solely reliant on foreign technology and assembly.
