The Nissan reindustrialization board has decided to keep the decarbonization hub led by QEV Technologies as a priority option in the Zona Franca because it offers an industrial solution, one of the objectives set by administrations, unions, and the Japanese brand after the closure of the factories carried out this December. The situation has left 1,400 people without work (discounting early retirements and incentivized resignations).
The decision was made after last December 17, the Chinese company Great Wall Motor (GWM) ruled out continuing in the negotiation process after not obtaining the level of public aid it demanded. However, the board has decided to keep this project as an option, although it focuses all negotiation efforts on the QEV project.
The reindustrialization board has requested "guarantees" of employment and investment and to know the real magnitude of the QEV project, to assess whether other proposals are necessary to occupy all the space of the Zona Franca factory site. It has also requested the creation of a company with a minimum paid-in capital and the hiring of a management team, considering that the electromobility hub is made up of a dozen companies.
The project led by QEV, based in Montmeló (Barcelona), plans to occupy Nissan's two current manufacturing lines in the Zona Franca to produce various vehicle models, such as a small van and even a larger vehicle. For the board, the proposal also includes an outlet for the reindustrialization of the plant that Nissan has in Sant Andreu de la Barca.
The reindustrialization board has requested employment and investment guarantees to thoroughly understand the QEV projectAs for the facilities in Montcada i Reixac, administrations and unions will continue working on the project of the electric motorcycle manufacturer Silence, which according to workers' representatives would be in a very advanced phase.
The reindustrialization table ---formed by the Government of the Generalitat, the central Government, Nissan and the Nissan company committees and advised by KPMG--- also asks for more guarantees for Silence's business and industrial plan. The next meeting of the table is scheduled for January 21.
Regarding the logistics projects that have also shown interest in occupying Nissan's facilities, the table will keep them as an alternative, but for the moment, no work is being done on them.
The Minister of Business and Labor of the Generalitat, Roger Torrent, has said that from now on a "decisive phase" is entered in which it will be necessary to analyze both the needs for land and industrial assets, as well as "the solvency" of the projects led by QEV Technologies in the Zona Franca, and by Silence in Montcada i Reixac. "And all this, without ruling out any of those on the table; because, in fact, we want to maximize space and generate as much added value as possible," Torrent stressed, referring to the fact that the table is open to analyzing other projects if the decarbonization hub does not occupy all the space in the Zona Franca.
From the Government, the Secretary General of Industry, Raül Blanco, recalled that "the main objective is that the resulting projects cover the needs of the workforce of the three Nissan plants," and added that "positive progress is being made" in this regard.
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