Stellantis and CATL have agreed to invest up to €4.1 billion to establish a joint venture for a large-scale lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery plant in Zaragoza, Spain. The facility is designed to be fully carbon-neutral and will be developed in multiple phases.
Scheduled to begin production by late 2026 at Stellantis’ Zaragoza site, the plant’s capacity could reach up to 50 GWh, depending on the growth of Europe’s electric vehicle market and continued support from Spanish and EU authorities.
This 50-50 joint venture will strengthen Stellantis’ LFP battery offerings in Europe, enabling the automaker to deliver more high-quality, durable, and cost-effective electric passenger cars, crossovers, and SUVs in the B and C segments with intermediate ranges.
In November 2023, Stellantis and CATL signed a non-binding MOU for the local supply of LFP battery cells and modules for electric vehicle production in Europe and established a long-term collaboration on two strategic fronts: creating a bold technology roadmap to support Stellantis’ advanced battery electric vehicles (BEV) and identifying opportunities to further strengthen the battery value chain.
“Stellantis is committed to a decarbonized future, embracing all available advanced battery technologies to bring competitive electric vehicle products to our customers,” said Stellantis Chairman John Elkann. “This important joint venture with our partner CATL will bring innovative battery production to a manufacturing site that is already a leader in clean and renewable energy, helping drive a 360-degree sustainable approach. I want to thank all stakeholders involved in making today’s announcement a reality, including the Spanish authorities for their continued support.”
“The joint venture has taken our cooperation with Stellantis to new heights, and I believe our cutting-edge battery technology and outstanding operation knowhow combined with Stellantis’ decades-long experience in running business locally in Zaragoza will ensure a major success story in the industry,” said Robin Zeng, Chairman and CEO of CATL. “CATL’s goal is to make zero-carbon technology accessible across the globe, and we look forward to cooperating with our partners globally through more innovative cooperation models.”
CATL is bringing state-of-the-art battery manufacturing technology to Europe through its two plants in Germany and Hungary, which are already operational. The Spanish facility will enhance its capabilities to support customers’ climate goals, further underscoring its commitment to advancing e-mobility and energy transition efforts in Europe and the global market.
Stellantis is employing a dual-chemistry approach – lithium-ion nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) – to serve all customers and exploring innovative battery cell and pack technologies. Stellantis is on track to becoming a carbon net zero corporation by 2038, all scopes included, with single-digit percentage compensation of remaining emissions.
The transaction is expected to close in the course of 2025 and is subject to customary regulatory conditions.
