Zona franca of Barcelona – Photo: joan ggk (Flickr) CC BY
months Ago that discusses the possibility that Tesla finished installing a factory in Spain. Several regions have offered to hold it, we will tell in detail the case of Paterna (Valencia, spain) and Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz), but there is more; Galicia and Navarre are also offered. Except in Cadiz, we talk about regions with automotive industry.
back in may it was revealed that Tesla was engaging in negotiations at a high level to establish a factory in Catalonia, as revealed regional television TV3. Today it has been recognized by the minister of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, Luis de Guindos, but with no mention of the manufacturer.
During a conference held in Zaragoza, the minister has said that the political climate that you breathe these days is not helping in the negotiations, but hopes to remedy the situation. We have also known that the place chosen is the zona franca of Barcelona.
The first permanent store of Tesla is located in L’hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), the same province where he was the first provisional
it Is very likely that it refers to Tesla, since the american company has set itself quite a lot in Catalonia. Recall that the first supercharger in Spanish was placed there, also the first pop-up store in Port Vell, and after its first service center and maintenance.
True, these reasons are not enough, but must also take into account the industrial fabric with the counts of Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia. In fact, we saw in a recent article how would the car industry in the course of which Catalonia was an independent country.
Without doubt to Tesla you are interested in access to the european single market without tariffs
Tesla needs to take into account several factors when placing your factory in Spain. Obviously the location in terms of suppliers it is important, also in terms of transport, in this aspect, the Catalan region is well connected with Europe by road and sea, not so much by rail, and has an international airport.
Another important point is the availability of solar radiation, since the gigafactorías Tesla need a lot of energy and will be used all the sun possible. In that sense the regions of the southern half have a little more radiation, as we can see in the above graphic.
incidentally, in the SEAT factory in Martorell have been installed to 53,000 solar panels, although it is not the same level as the gigafactoría of Nevada (united States), where it will produce batteries in bulk. Under the leadership of Elon Musk, Tesla aims to be all organic can be.
The Government of Spain would take time negotiating with this manufacturer to implant in our soil. In recent years, Spain has not led to new factories, but an important bet of the manufacturers on the industrial fabric of the existing, for something we are the second european manufacturer in importance.
Factory of Nissan in Barcelona
the impact of the political crisis in Catalonia
According to the minister De Guindos, lin the proximity of the referendum of October 1, has had very little effect on the Catalan economy, although it is being noticed already in the tourism sector, as revealed by the minister of Energy, Tourism and Digital Agenda. In addition, if we look back, are leaving more and more companies of Catalonia of which are being founded, so that there is a net loss of the business fabric.
According to a study by Informa D&B company CESCE, we talk about the autonomy that most companies have lost in the past three years, which coincides with the more intense phase of the challenge for independence. Companies, generally, do not like the economic scenarios that are unstable or with uncertainties.
The economy of Catalonia is heavily dependent on 75% of the exports. To separate from Spain, after a transitional period, would have to abide by the rules of the WTO and suffer a tariff of 10% for input and output, which lastraría the competitiveness of any product. That could be solved with further agreements, but would not be automatic or immediate, as already happens in Norway or Switzerland. It is the same problem that will face the Uk when you have accomplished the “Brexit”.
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