Chinese Auto Industry Expands in Europe with Spain, Germany Projects

Chinese automaker Geely is widening its European footprint. In Germany, the Lionheart project aims to develop lithium mining and processing for electric‑vehicle batteries, with Geely’s sales and marketing chief Philipp Hempel saying the company wants to become the leading Chinese importer in the country.

In Spain, Geely has partnered with U.S.‑based Ford to create a joint venture at the Almussafes plant near Valencia. Ford will hold 66 % of the venture and Geely 34 %, pending regulatory approval. The partnership is planned to start operations in the first half of 2027, with vehicle production slated for 2028 and a potential annual capacity of around 500,000 cars. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez hailed the deal as a boost for jobs and the nation’s electric‑mobility transition, noting that Spain has already allocated more than €4.8 billion to support electric and connected‑vehicle initiatives.