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©Reuters. Volkswagen confirms the Sagunto gigafactory and accepts PERTE aid
Valencia, Nov 9 (.).- The Volkswagen-Seat group will finally build a gigafactory for batteries for electric cars in Sagunto (Valencia), after having accepted public aid of 397 million euros to promote an industrial project in Spain that plans to mobilize 10,000 million euros in investments.
Doubts about the viability of the future Valencian plant that had arisen in recent weeks are thus cleared up, after Volkswagen (ETR:) described as insufficient the item that had been assigned to it within the PERTE of the Electric and Connected Vehicle, and that has finally accepted on the last day of the term.
However, the president of Seat and Cupra, Wayne Griffiths, has indicated that this is “a first step” and that they will continue “looking for solutions” to develop their “ambitious plan” for electrification, which in addition to the first battery plant in Spain (in Sagunto) includes the electrification of the Martorell (Barcelona) and Lambaden (Pamplona) plants.
SPEED UP IMPLEMENTATION
The first decision of the Valencian Government after knowing the confirmation of the multinational has been to announce that this Thursday the urban planning instrument that will accelerate the implementation of the gigafactory will be published in the Official Gazette of the Generalitat Valenciana: the strategic territorial project of Volkswagen.
This is a mechanism that makes it possible to shorten the processing times for the development of the plant -which otherwise could not be ready in 2026, as the Generalitat promised-, which will involve an investment of 3,000 million euros and the creation of 3,000 direct jobs and 12,000 indirect jobs.
The Valencian president, Ximo Puig, has indicated that in the first quarter of 2023 the clearing works for the new gigafactory may begin, which will be “fundamental” for the reindustrialization of the Valencian economy; and he has assured that “at no time” did he doubt that the multinational would confirm his initial decision.
He explained that the final negotiation has not led to an increase in the contribution from the Generalitat, which will be “similar” to that which the Ford (NYSE:) plant in Almussafes (Valencia) has received in recent years, and that the Government of Spain will give “supplementary” aid that will be specified in the coming weeks, while it has clarified that Volkswagen cannot opt for the second PERTE with the same project.
POLITICAL AND BUSINESS REACTIONS
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has considered it “extraordinary news” that the Seat-Volkswagen group has committed to the implementation of this gigafactory in Sagunto, which in his opinion demonstrates the potential of Spain and the “success” of its economic and modernization policies.
The Minister for Industry, Reyes Maroto, thanked Volkswagen and those who attended PERTE for “their trust”, which will allow the project for Spain to become “an electromobility hub in Europe” to be developed “with guarantees”, while For the Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, it shows that Spain “is the best country to invest in”.
For the Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, the Seat-Volkswagen announcement is “very good news” and a demonstration that Spain “is the best country to invest in”.
All the Valencian political parties have applauded this decision and, in the business field, the president of the Valencian employers’ association, Salvador Navarro, has celebrated that Volkswagen “is already a Valencian company”, and has considered that the Sagunto gigafactory will be “a real revulsive so that the industry gains weight in the GDP”.
Likewise, the president of the SEAT works council, Matías Carnero, stressed that “this is the first stone to electrify Spain”, and considered that now we must focus on manufacturing electric cars.
With the announcement this Wednesday, in Sagunto, which suffered the effects of industrial reconversion with the closure of Altos Hornos del Mediterráneo in 1984, a project continues that has revitalized the industrial estate where the gigafactory will be installed and has activated business expectations in the province of Valencia.
THE CATALAN GOVERNMENT IS STUDYING A SUPPLEMENTARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE PERTE
Meanwhile, the Catalan government is working with Seat on the definition of a “complementary (economic) contribution” to that provided by the central government in the PERTE of the electric vehicle.
In statements in Parliament, the Minister of Economy, Natàlia Mas, commented that “for months” the Government has been in contact with Seat to agree on the amount that the regional administration will contribute and that it will be added to those 397 million euros that will be have committed at the moment for PERTE of the electric vehicle.
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(Photo / Video)
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