• Share of 6.3% Spain buys three times fewer electric cars than Europe
  • 2022 Car factories produced 5.8% more, with Stellantis leading

The vehicle production plants installed in Spain manufactured 1.61 million units in the first eight months of the year, representing an increase of 15.3% in the comparison with the same period of 2022. These data reflect a "recovery path" in line with the improvement initiated last year, although production is still weighed down by tensions in the supply chain and is still 14.8% lower than in 2019, points out, by way of summary, the association of manufacturers Anfac.

And, although the volume of August was 17.9% lower (91,837 units) than that of the same month of 2022, the spectacular record of July more than compensated for it. Then 204,142 units were assembled, 34% more. The volatility is due, according to Anfac, to the fact that on the same dates production was unevenly affected by the impact of the war in Ukraine.

Electric vans produced by Stellantis in VigoEM

Export growth

One of the reasons that explain the greater pace of work of the plants was the pull of foreign markets: exports reached historical levels, with a 91.5% coverage rate (1.41 million vehicles), which is the highest in the last 15 years. Last year, it was 84% and since 2009, it has never exceeded 87%.

This shows, say the manufacturers, that the internal market is still very weak; and, at the same time, enhances the attractiveness of vehicles 'made in Spain'. Turkey, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy are the main buyers of these cars.

13% were electrified

By energy sources, electrified vehicles represent 13.4% of national manufacturing and reached 216,088 units, 36.5% more. More than half were pure electric (109,209 cars, 53.3% more); while plug-in hybrids (PHEV) totaled 106,879 units, 22.8% more.

The general director of Anfac, José López-Tafall, wanted to remember that, despite the good pace of the factories, we must "remain expectant" in the face of possible adverse situations, such as the case of a Slovenian component factory that has been flooded and "has conditioned the last weeks" the manufacture in Spain and Europe. Therefore, "it is necessary to strengthen our national value chain and attract new opportunities linked to the electrified vehicle," he remarked.

  • Motor industry