Spain has closed a transition exercise, as far as vehicle production is concerned. The year 2024 began with Spain as the eighth vehicle producer and ended as the ninth world manufacturer after being surpassed by Brazil.
During last year, 2,376,504 vehicles were manufactured in Spanish factories, which represents 3% less in the year-on-year comparison, according to data from the manufacturers’ association (Anfac). But this decline also means going back to the levels of 2014. At that time, the country was mired in the consequences of the 2008 crisis. Furthermore, one of the main objectives that it had a decade ago was to reach 3 million vehicles—a goal that was close to being achieved four years later, when 2.88 million units were manufactured.
The decrease is due to the transformation that Spanish factories are carrying out to be able to produce electrified models. We must also take into account the low demand for electrified vehicles, both in the national market and in the main community markets.
As for the vehicle typologyalthough the production of passenger cars has increased by 0.6% in the accumulated of the year, up to 1,918,244 units, the total figure has been weighed down by the manufacture of commercial and industrial vehicles, which has decreased by 15.8 % up to 458,260 vehicles.
In 2024, the production of zero and low emission vehicles (electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, conventional hybrids, natural gas and LPG) has grown by 38.8% compared to 2023, with a total of 707,033 units. Specifically, during the year 29.7% of production has been of this type of model, 9 percentage points more than in 2023.
The most significant production growth during 2024 fell on non-plug-in hybrid vehicles (HEV), which increased by 58.8%, to 466,460 units, and represented 19.6% of total manufacturing.
Regarding the manufacture of electrified vehicles, in 2024 it accounted for 8.5% of total production, a decrease of 2.9 percentage points compared to the previous year. In total, 202,555 electrified vehicles have been manufactured, a decline of 27.5% with respect to 2023.
José López-Tafall, general director of Anfac, explained that “it is evident that 2024 has been a bad year for the demand for electric vehicles in Europe and Spain, and that has affected the figures.” In his opinion, “2025 should be the year to find different solutions and achieve that desired change of pace in the market. The union of demand and supply policies in an integrated, consensual plan with clear objectives and resources would be very convenient , in the same way that the new European Commission advocates for the entire Union”.
Volkswagen and Renault, the only groups that increase production
In 2024 there have only been two groups that have increased production compared to the previous year. It is about the Volkswagen Group and of Renault Group.
The German automobile giant produced in the Martorell and Landaben factories a total of 755,708 vehicles, which is equivalent to an increase of 5.4% in the year-on-year comparison. The Martorell plant closed the year with a total of 481,020 units produced, 8.5% more than in 2023. It should be noted that the Catalan factory is also preparing to produce electric models, given that the production of the Cupra Raval is planned. a completely electric model in 2026. The Navarrese Landaben factory, for its part, ended the year with 274,688 units, 0.5% more than the previous year. In fact, the plant is the fourth with the highest production volume of the German brand, since it represents 9% of the cars assembled by Volkswagen worldwide. The Landaben factory is one of those that is carrying out a transformation process in order to produce two completely electric models from 2026 (one from Volkswagen and the other from Skoda).
The Renault Group, with factories in Palencia, Valladolid and Seville (which produces gearboxes), was the other consortium that increased vehicle manufacturing. The French automobile consortium assembled 348,000 units in Spain, 15.3% more than the previous year. In the Palencia factory of Villamuriel de Cerrato 138,000 vehicles were produced, 6.9% more than in 2023. This plant is responsible for the manufacturing of the Austral, Espace and Rafale models. Valladolidfor its part, experienced the largest productive increase of a factory in Spain. 210,000 Renault Captur and Renault Symbioz vehicles were assembled at this plant, 21.6% more than a year ago.
Stellantis remained as the group with the most vehicle production in Spain. The Franco-Italian-American group, with factories in Vigo, Figueruelas (Zaragoza) and Madrid, ended the year with a total of 981,120 vehicles produced, 2.2% less in the year-on-year comparison. The Vigo factory was once again the largest in Spain, with a total of 516,050 vehicles produced, 2.9% less compared to 2023. The Aragonese plant in Figueruelas, for its part, increased production by 1.8% , until reaching 372,481 vehicles. It will be in this factory where the group, together with the Chinese giant CATL, will install a battery gigafactory, which is expected to be fully operational in 2028. Both plants are also awaiting allocation by the group of the STLA Small platformdedicated to the manufacture of small electric models. The Madrid plant of VillaverdeFor its part, it ended the year with a production of 92,589 units, 12.5% less than in 2023.
Ford, Mercedes and Iveco, down
The two Spanish factories that cut production the most in 2024 were Ford’s in Almussafes and Mercedes-Benz’s in Vitoria. In the case of the Valencian factory, production stood at 120,000 units, 45.4% less compared to 2023. The loss of the models that Valencia manufactured in recent years and which has meant that since the beginning of the years Almussafes just mount the Kuga, after the end of the Transit Connect, have been the main reason for this collapse. But if that were not enough, The DANA that has flooded part of the province of Valencia has also had an effect in the activity of the largest factory in the region, which was forced to stop several extra days and work at idle when it already had reduced production.
Mercedes-Benz also closed last year with a significant drop of 23.8%, with 120,000 units assembled. The Alava factory is carrying out a transformation to produce electric models starting next year.
The group Ivecopresent in Spain with plants in Madrid and Valladolid, also cut back on industrial vehicle manufacturing last year. In the case of the Madrid plant, 22,000 units of the heavy range were produced, 29% less than in 2023. In Valladolid, Iveco assembled 27,000 Daily models, both in their chassis and cab versions, 6.9% less than the previous year. This drop in production in both factories is due to a drop in demand in the commercial vehicle market in the main community markets.
Exports fall 4%
Exports have also registered a decrease of 4% in 2024, with 2,123,584 vehicles shipped outside our borders. So things are, 89.4% of total Spanish production is destined for export.
Europe remains the main destination for vehicles produced in Spain, with a share of 93.1%, which represents an increase of 3.1 percentage points compared to the previous year. France continues to lead the first position, increasing its orders by 8.5%, followed by Germany (-1.8%) and the United Kingdom (-4.7%). Also worth highlighting, in the cumulative figure for the year, are the increases in exports to Poland (12.1%) and Mexico (6.5%).
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