- Since the beginning of the legislature, €23 million have been allocated in grants to the mobility sector, generating 2,131 jobs and mobilising investments of nearly €114 million
- Catalonia obtains a third €65-million extension of the Moves III plan and becomes the Spanish territory with the largest investment in these grants for the purchase of electric vehicles and the installation of charging stations
The Catalan Government aims to boost the green transition of the mobility sector, which is currently facing major challenges including connected and autonomous vehicles; electromobility and emission reductions; changes in mobility consumption patterns; and the entry of new stakeholders. At an event attended by more than 200 representatives from the sector, the Generalitat de Catalunya highlighted the work carried out to help the sector make the transition towards sustainable mobility.
According to the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Pere Aragonès, “we are taking another step forward and mobilising all the resources at our disposal to further accelerate the sustainable transformation of the mobility industry.” The head of Catalan Government highlighted “the proactive work of the Generalitat de Catalunya to promote electric mobility, to facilitate and promote the installation of charging stations and to support the automotive sector in its transformation.” “In three years we will have mobilised a total of €195 million for the purchase of electric vehicles and the installation of charging stations, making Catalonia the area of Spain that has been able to attract the most funds,” he added.
The event was led by the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya and was also attended by the Minister for Business and Labour, Roger Torrent i Ramió, the Minister for Economy and Finance, Natàlia Mas Guix, and the president of ANFAC (the Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers), Wayne Griffiths. ANFAC's president stated that “electromobility is an opportunity for Catalonia” because “it is essential to consolidate a model as a country that creates clean vehicles as part of the solution, and not the problem.” Griffiths added that “the automotive sector needs to see Catalonia and Spain as a car-friendly country. If not, investments will go to other countries that are backing the automotive industry. And, at the same time, we need to accelerate and encourage measures that make electrical vehicles attractive to people and businesses.”
During the event, the President announced that the Catalan Government has allocated a total of €23 million to projects linked to the mobility and automotive sector that have generated 2,131 jobs and an investment of €114 million in the period 2021-2022. To this figure must be added the direct grants that the Catalan Government will allocate to ensure the success of the Future Fast Forward project, which includes the electrification of the Martorell plant and which will involve a €3 billion investment by the Volkswagen-Seat Group as well as the establishment of ILJIN in Mont-Roig del Camp, with an investment of €600 million and the creation of 500 jobs.
Aragonès also explained that Catalonia has received a second €65-million extension to the Moves III grants plan for the purchase of electric vehicles and the installation of charging stations for individuals and companies. Catalonia is the Spanish territory with the largest investment in this type of grant (managed by the Ministry of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda) with €196 million, followed by Andalusia (€105 million), Madrid (€87 million) and Valencia (€85 million).
Catalonia currently has 73 start-ups in the mobility sector, 35% more than five years ago, which employ 521 workers.
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