The first shipment of approximately 700 vehicles from Chinese automaker SAIC Motor (上汽集团) has arrived at the Port of Ferrol in northwestern Spain, strengthening the company’s logistics presence as it prepares to establish its first electric-vehicle factory in Europe.
The vehicles reached Ferrol in Spain’s Galicia region, which is expected to become an important entry point for SAIC’s expanding European business. The shipment marks the beginning of what local reports described as a planned regular vehicle-delivery service connecting SAIC’s Chinese production network with the Spanish port.
The arrival comes as SAIC moves forward with a proposed EV manufacturing and logistics complex in the region. According to the Galician government, the company plans to invest an initial €200 million in the project.
The factory would be located in Ferrol and is expected to have an annual production capacity of approximately 120,000 vehicles. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with operations targeted to start by the end of 2028. The project could create more than 2,300 direct and indirect jobs.
The investment remains subject to regulatory review and approval. The facility should therefore still be described as a planned factory rather than a completed or fully approved project.
SAIC is expected to use the plant to support its MG brand, which has developed a significant presence in the European market. MG sells a range of electric, hybrid and conventional vehicles across the region, including the MG4 and MG ZS.
The planned factory reflects a broader change in the overseas strategy of Chinese automakers. After expanding through vehicle exports, companies are increasingly considering local production, regional supply chains and closer cooperation with European distributors and suppliers.
Local manufacturing could help SAIC shorten delivery times, adapt products more quickly to European consumer preferences and reduce logistics costs. It may also help the company respond to the European Union’s additional tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China.
Spain offers several advantages as a production location, including an established automotive industry, skilled workers, component suppliers and access to major European markets. Ferrol’s port infrastructure could also support the import of components and the distribution of completed vehicles.
The arrival of the first 700 vehicles does not mean construction of the factory has begun. It nevertheless demonstrates that SAIC is already building logistics and commercial links with the region before the proposed manufacturing operation becomes active.
SAIC’s approach combines regular vehicle shipments with planned local production. This model could allow the company to maintain near-term sales while gradually establishing a more localized and resilient European operating system.