- The Chinese company has chosen Galicia over other locations considered for its expansion into the European market due to Galicia’s industrial capacity, strong manufacturing base, and ability to facilitate a rapid implementation process.
- It highlights that the initiative envisages the creation of an industrial facility at the Outer Port of Ferrol, which could generate 2,000 jobs and promote the establishment of suppliers in an industrial and logistics hub in As Pontes, creating an additional 300 jobs.
- To attract this investment, the Regional Government of Galicia maintained intensive engagement with SAIC through multiple meetings held over recent months.
- Rueda emphasized that the forecast is to “begin construction in 2027” and have the complex “operational by 2028.”
- The Minister of Economy highlighted that the Regional Government has assigned the “SAIC Project” to a dedicated unit within the Galicia Economic Office, which will lead the support, monitoring, and coordination of all procedures related to the industrial project.
Santiago de Compostela, June 1, 2026
The President of the Regional Government of Galicia, Alfonso Rueda, announced today that the Regional Cabinet has declared the initial development of the Chinese vehicle manufacturer SAIC’s industrial complex in Galicia a Strategic Industrial Project (PIE). The PIE includes the launch of an industrial area at the Outer Port of Ferrol, which would initially create 1,000 direct jobs and an additional 1,000 indirect jobs, as well as an industrial and logistics center in As Pontes de García Rodríguez that would generate 300 jobs. “It will be the multinational’s first industrial project in Europe,” he emphasized.
During his remarks, he explained that since the company first expressed interest in Galicia in October 2025, the regional government has engaged in an intensive dialogue process with the multinational to understand its implementation needs through a series of working meetings. This process culminated in SAIC’s formal request to begin the administrative procedures for what would become its first industrial project in Europe. “Many meetings have been held between the company and the Regional Government,” said Rueda, noting that one of the reasons SAIC selected Galicia is “the extensive and leading tradition we have in the automotive sector, both in vehicle manufacturing and component production.”
For her part, the Minister of Economy and Industry, María Jesús Lorenzana, described the initiative as “a major economic and industrial opportunity for Ferrolterra” and for Galicia as a whole, following the Chinese company’s commitment that a large proportion of the components for its vehicles “will be locally manufactured.”
Lorenzana thanked the work carried out by Igape, through the Galicia Economic Office, as well as the General Secretariat for Industry and Energy Development, in collaboration with SAIC’s management team.
Regarding the procedures already completed, Lorenzana explained that in March, after extensive preparatory work, the Regional Government concluded that the investment project submitted by SAIC was “sufficiently mature” to be forwarded to the Spanish Government, the authority responsible for authorizing foreign direct investment in Spain. The company has already submitted the corresponding notification for approval. In this regard, the minister noted that cooperation reached the highest level during three high-level meetings held in Madrid with representatives of the multinational and the Spanish Government.
A Major Industrial and Logistics Hub
Regarding the characteristics of the industrial complex that SAIC plans to establish in Galicia, the minister explained that it would be developed on part of the facilities at the Outer Port of Ferrol. This is without prejudice to the fact that, according to the company’s own Strategic Industrial Project application, its medium- and long-term intention is to transform the Ferrolterra region and As Pontes into an industrial and logistics hub if the full project is ultimately implemented.
The project would include advanced manufacturing technologies and key industrial processes, as well as the local production of a high proportion of components in compliance with mandatory European Union regulations. The company intends to maximize local sourcing of components whenever economically viable, either through in-house manufacturing facilities or through suppliers established in the region.
New companies wishing to establish operations within the multinational’s area of influence could do so in locations such as the Mandiá business park, whose development process has already been initiated by the Regional Government of Galicia, as well as in the industrial area of As Pontes.
The operation would result in the establishment of SAIC’s first industrial and logistics center within the European Union, with Ferrol and As Pontes serving as the project’s main hubs. Furthermore, the Strategic Industrial Project submitted by the company would generate extraordinary logistics activity for the Port of Ferrol, bringing significant activity to facilities that are still under development.
In her remarks, Lorenzana explained that for the project to move forward, two additional procedures must be completed alongside the Strategic Industrial Project process. First, the company must obtain, either beforehand or at least simultaneously, the concessions for the plots of land it intends to occupy at the Outer Port of Ferrol. Second, as a non-European company, it must obtain Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) authorization from the Spanish Government, granted by the Council of Ministers. Therefore, the viability of the project remains subject to obtaining all necessary permits and authorizations, favorable economic assessments, and the availability of public support.
In any case, the Regional Government of Galicia will continue to lead the entire process and maintain close cooperation with Spain’s State Ports Authority, local administrations, and the Spanish Government to ensure the project’s successful completion. To this end, the Regional Cabinet has assigned the “SAIC Project” to a dedicated unit within the Galicia Economic Office, which will oversee support, monitoring, and coordination of all procedures related to the investment.
The unit will include an engineer assigned to the project and a legal specialist in business investment, among other technical profiles. In addition to driving the Strategic Industrial Project process, it will coordinate actions with the municipalities of Ferrol and As Pontes, the port authority, and the Spanish Government to ensure procedural consistency and facilitate the complex administrative process the company will face moving forward.
This represents a further step in Galicia’s national leadership in reducing bureaucracy and streamlining administrative procedures, a key economic policy of the regional government to foster growth and attract investment.
Timeline, Investment, and Estimated Employment
Regarding implementation timelines, the minister stated that, according to SAIC’s plans, the company expects to have obtained all necessary permits and authorizations by the end of 2026 in order to begin construction of the first phase of the Ferrol plant. “The forecast is to start construction in 2027 and have the factory operational by 2028,” said Rueda.
Finally, María Jesús Lorenzana added that during the working meetings held with the company, the Regional Government offered SAIC all industrial zones in Galicia capable of hosting a project of this scale, including sites in the southern part of the region such as PLISAN and logistics facilities linked to the Port of Vigo, as well as various locations in northern Galicia with logistics support through the ports of A Coruña and Ferrol.
After multiple site visits and based on assessments of public support and economic viability, the Chinese executives expressed their intention to select the Ferrolterra–As Pontes area for the establishment of their European industrial complex, considering it the option that best met their needs.
The President noted that the initially planned investment amounts to approximately €200 million, in addition to the corresponding port fees for the industrial and logistics use of land at the Outer Port of Ferrol. The project includes two phases which, once completed, would enable the plant to reach an annual production capacity of 120,000 vehicles.
Of the 1,000 direct jobs expected, approximately half would be related to logistics operations and the other half to manufacturing activities, encompassing a wide range of professional profiles, including engineers, assembly workers, logistics personnel, dockworkers, truck drivers, as well as cleaning and security staff, among others.
