Second only to Germany in European vehicle output, and almost none of that output Spanish-owned. Stellantis assembles at Vigo, Zaragoza and Madrid, Renault at Valladolid and Palencia, Mercedes-Benz builds vans at Vitoria, Ford is at Almussafes. The two Spanish brands are SEAT and its performance spin-off Cupra, both taken into Volkswagen Group in stages through the 1980s and built at Martorell. Ebro is the newest name on the list, a revived Spanish badge assembling Chery-based models in Barcelona.
🇪🇸
Car News from Spain
Europe's second-largest vehicle producer after Germany, and the home of SEAT and Cupra, both of them Volkswagen Group brands.
5 articles · 3 brands
Brands
Factories
Explainers
European car brands where the badge and the owner disagree
Twelve European badges whose nationality does not match their ownership: Cupra, Vauxhall, DS, Opel, Lancia, Alpine, Abarth, MG, Ebro, DR Automobiles, smart and Leapmotor. Some are Spanish or British names owned in Germany or the Netherlands, some are revived badges on Chinese hardware, and several are assembled in a third country again.
Europe's Car Brands: The Ownership Structure
Most European badges trace back to about five mega-groups - Volkswagen, Stellantis, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Renault. But several beloved European brands are now owned abroad, in China, India and the UAE, and a few Chinese and joint-venture names now sell under European flags. Here is who owns what in 2026.
News about Spain
Ford and Geely set up a Spain joint venture that could reshape the Kuga
Ford and Geely are forming a joint venture at Ford's Valencia, Spain plant, with Ford holding 66% and Geely 34%. One of the first projects could be a next-generation Ford Kuga, reportedly moving to Geely's GEA architecture around 2029.
Ford and Geely Formalize Spain EV Deal
Ford and Geely Auto have signed a 66/34 joint venture to build EVs at Ford's Valencia plant in Spain, confirming and reshaping the informal deal first rumored in May 2026. The venture adds a Bronco-family SUV, a new Ford crossover, and two Geely electric SUVs from 2028; specific Geely models and full powertrain splits remain unconfirmed.
MG to build a factory in Spain, production from 2028 - its first European plant since 2016
SAIC will build a new MG factory in Galicia, north-west Spain - likely in the port of Ferrol. It is MG's first European production since the Longbridge plant closed in 2016. Capacity is 120,000 cars a year, but the modest €200m investment points to assembly rather than full localisation - a way around EU tariffs on Chinese EVs.
Geely Buys Ford's Almussafes Plant to Build EVs for Both Brands
Geely has agreed to buy the newest building at Ford's Almussafes (Valencia) plant. The plan: Geely GEA-platform models (BEV and PHEV) plus new affordable Ford EVs on the same Chinese architecture.