BARCELONA, Spain, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The renewal of a partnership between two major auto dealer associations from China and Spain comes at a "special" time for bilateral relations, according to Marta Blazquez, president of Spain's Federation of Automotive Dealers Associations (FACONAUTO).
In an interview with Xinhua on Friday, Blazquez expressed optimism about the continued collaboration between FACONAUTO and the China Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), which was first announced in Beijing a year ago. The renewed agreement was formalized last week during the Auto Shanghai international auto show, held from April 23 to May 2.
"We're very excited to extend our relationship into a second year because this is a very special, very critical, and very important time in China-Spain relations, and also for Spain as a gateway to Europe," said Blazquez.
"The cooperation between CADA and FACONAUTO strengthens relations between entrepreneurs of both countries, with two clear goals: one is to share knowledge of markets and trends, and also to facilitate the relationships needed to raise investment on one side or the other," Blazquez added.
According to Blazquez, the presence of Chinese brands in Spain's automotive market has grown rapidly, from a negligible 0.6 percent five years ago to 5 percent by the end of 2024. That figure surged to nearly 9 percent in the first quarter of 2025.
"Chinese brands know how to build their commercial policies alongside the dealership networks, and I believe that this conjunction of objectives, in which if the car brand wins then the network of dealerships also wins, is what has made the relationship successful," Blazquez pointed out.
One of the most prominent players is Chinese automaker Chery, which owns the Omoda and Jaecoo brands. Last year, Chery partnered with Spanish company Ebro to produce vehicles at the historic Barcelona plant. Chery has announced plans to expand its offerings in Spain by introducing four additional brands.
Meanwhile, Chinese automakers Zhengzhou Nissan and Anhui Coronet have also announced a similar initiative to revive production at the former Santana Motors facility in Andalusia, once known for producing Land Rover Santana and Suzuki Santana vehicles.
Blazquez said that "high-level meetings" at the Auto Shanghai show clearly demonstrated China's strong interest in investing in Spain.
The president of FACONAUTO noted that the Spanish auto sector "wants Chinese brands to see Spain and Europe as attractive places to invest," hoping that more Chinese brands "will come here to manufacture and work with local suppliers as part of the European auto community."
Blazquez also spoke of the recent global trade tensions, triggered by U.S. imposition of sweeping tariffs. A tariff-based trade war should be avoided, so that the auto industry that generates so many quality jobs can calmly continue to work without disruptions, Blazquez stressed. In March, the United States announced imposition of a 25 percent tariff on all imported cars and car parts, sending shockwaves through global markets.
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